Background

Apolipoprotein E (apoE), a 34 kDa protein, regulates the transport and metabolism of cholesterol in the periphery and central nervous system (CNS) [1–3]. In humans, there are three major apoE isoforms that differ in one or two amino acids; apoE2 (cysteine112, cysteine158), apoE3 (cysteine112, arginine158) and apoE4 (arginine112, arginine158). In European Americans, the prevalence of the ε2, ε3 and ε4 alleles is 7, 78 and 15%, respectively [4]. The most profound pathological consequence attributed to apoE polymorphism is the strong association of the ε4 allele with neurodegeneration [5].

The CNS relies primarily on de novo synthesis of apoE, since the blood–brain barrier (BBB) restricts the transport of apoE and cholesterol into and out of brain [6–8]. Mature neurons have a high demand for cholesterol and while they can synthesize it, under physiological conditions additional supplement in the form of apoE-associated cholesterol is used [9]. This task has been outsourced to non-neuronal cells, the glial cells, and in particular astrocytes, considered the main producer of brain apoE [10–16]. However, the choroid plexus highly expresses apoE [17], and apoE is one of the major apolipoprotein in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) [3, 17–24]. The role of apoE in the CSF is unclear.

In the periphery, apoE is produced mainly by the liver and distributed body-wide, except to the brain, via the blood and lymphatic systems [25]. To our knowledge, it has not been considered whether a brain-wide mechanism for the distribution of CSF apoE exists. Recently, the ‘glymphatic system’, a fluid transporting pathway that is functionally analogous to the peripheral lymphatic system, was shown to be fundamental for the bulk flow/convective flow of brain interstitial fluid (ISF) and its downstream clearance. This system consists of CSF inflow via the perivascular space of penetrating arteries, CSF/ISF exchange and astrocytic aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-mediated bulk flow of ISF through the parenchyma [26–30]. We reasoned that this system is not only waste removal pathways but should also distribute molecules in the CSF, such as choroid plexus-derived apoE, to brain. We tested the hypothesis that the glymphatic fluid transport also serves as delivery and distribution pathways for choroid plexus-derived apoE to brain. ApoE was used since its brain derived, confined within the CNS, a known risk factor for neurodegeneration and a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The aims of these studies were to establish whether apoE in the CSF and apoE secreted by the choroid plexus into CSF were distributed into brain via the peri-arterial space, and whether this distribution pattern was altered by sleep deprivation. The study was necessary to determine whether apoE in CSF can enter brain and taken up by parenchymal cells, such as neurons, since astrocytes are believed to be the major source of brain apoE. It is important to the field as it provides an alternative means to target the brain by circumventing the BBB.

Our analysis shows that the glymphatic fluid transport plays an important role in the macroscopic delivery of apoE, produced by the choroid plexus, to brain. CSF-derived apoE is rapidly delivered into brain in a radial pattern around the penetrating arterial vessels, but not veins, in an isoform specific manner (apoE2 > apoE3 > apoE4) and associated with neurons. ApoE parenchymal distribution was facilitated by AQP4. In addition, sleep deprivation suppresses glymphatic CSF-derived apoE distribution into brain and its clearance. Thus, speculating, failure of the glymphatic fluid transport may contribute to apoE related disorders, in the long-term.

Methods

Mice

Male C57BL/6 J and NG2-DsRed (Tg(Cspg4-Ds Red.T1)1Akik/J) mice, which are on C57BL/6 J genetic background, were purchased from Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). In mice older than 6–8 weeks, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells rarely express Ds-Red, which is restricted to peri-vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes [26, 31]. In these mice, arteries and arterioles are labeled with DsRed, whereas veins are DsRed negative [26]. The AQP4 ko (Aqp4 −/− ) mice were obtained from Dr Nagelhus and generated as described [32]. While there was no significant sex differences in glymphatic fluid transport of apoE in young mice, males were used for consistency. The mice were housed in the vivarium facilities at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. All animal studies were performed according to the NIH guidelines using protocols approved by the University of Rochester Committee on Animal Resources. Mice were housed at a maximum of five per cage, as permitted, depending on the experiment, and maintained on a 12:12 light/dark schedule (6 AM: 6 PM) with food and water ad libitum. Mice were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine (100 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection (IP).

Materials

The lentivirus (pTANK-CMVie-LckEGFP-WPRE) expressing membrane-bound enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was designed to carry, in the 5' to 3' direction, a central polypurine tract (cPPT) element, a cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early promoter, membrane-bounded EGFP, expressed in tandem with a Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus Posttranscriptional Regulatory Element (WPRE). Virus particles (called lenti-EGFP) pseudo typed with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein were produced, concentrated by ultracentrifugation, and titrated on 293HEK cells (1.0 x1012 colony forming unit/ml) [33, 34]. Lentivirus-apoE3 (OHS 5899–202616165; Precision LentiORF.APOE3 with stop codon) was obtained from GE Dharmacon, Inc. (Lafayette, CO, USA). The apoE3 was cloned into LentiORD plasmid under the control of the CMV promoter. The expression cassette contains CMV, apoE3, IRES, EGFP and WPRE. We referred to this apoE3 gene delivery as lenti-apoE3 to compare with the lenti-EGFP particle. The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) provides for bicistronic expression, but the expression of EGFP is low compared to that of apoE3 in this cassette. Thus, to get a good signal of EGFP expression that is similar to that of apoE3 we used a mixture of both lenti-EGFP and lenti-apoE3 to provide a more rigorous test of the transduced cells (EGFP) in the presence of released apoE3 (detected by immunolabeling of the human apoE) in some experiments where stated. Reconstituted human lipidated-apoE2, −apoE3 and -apoE4 were obtained from Dr. David Holtzman. The particle size (10–17 nm) and disc shape were similar to the range of HDL-like particles derived from astrocytes or isolated from human CSF [12, 14, 15, 35, 36], and also similar to the reconstituted apoE [35]. The size and shape of lipoproteins in CSF are heterogeneous and may be species dependent [3, 37]. We used human apoE, the most abundant apolipoprotein in CSF, and our analysis only detects apoE. The apoE particles were purified by gel filtration-FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) to minimize the loss of proteins and antibody affinity column, and the particle size determined by non-denaturing gel electrophoresis followed Western blot analysis [12, 35]. In addition, the particle size of each of the three apoE isoform was similar [35]. ISF clearance of apoE is not affected by its particle size [6]. The particle size is within the size of the gaps (~20 nm) between astrocytic end feet [38, 39]. FITC-tagged apoE was prepared following the manufacturer’s instructions (FITC Protein labeling Kit (F-6434, Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA). ApoE labeled with Alexa Fluor 647 was prepared following the manufacturer’s instructions (Alexa Fluor 647, Microscale Protein Labeling Kit (A30009), Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA). Lectin was obtained from Vector Laboratory (Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato); Burlingame CA, USA).

Transduction

Lentivirus carrying only EGFP or human apoE3 was stereotactically injected into the right lateral ventricle (co-ordinates: anteroposterior, −0.4 mm; mediolateral, +1.0 mm and dorsoventral, −2.3 mm), using a pulled glass pipette connected to a Hamilton syringe that is driven by a microinjector pump controller (Micro 4, World Precision Instruments, Inc., Sarasota, FL), at 1 μL/min for 3 min. At the end of the injection, the pipette was left at the injection site for 10 min to prevent reflux of the injectate along the injection track. It was removed slowly over 2 min. After 1 to 8 weeks post-transduction mice were re-anesthetized and perfusion fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA). Brains were sectioned horizontal at 100 μm thickness using a vibratome (Vibratome Series 1000). Sections were observed for EGFP expression, and processed for immunolabeling of various proteins, including human apoE.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry was performed as reported [40, 41]. Mice were transcardially perfused with ice-cold phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis,MO,USA) followed by 4% PFA (Sigma-Aldrich). Free floating brain sections (100 μm; horizontal or coronal) were immunolabeled for various specific markers, such as neurons (NeuN) and astrocytes (GFAP). The tissue was blocked with 7% donkey serum for 1 h and incubated with the primary antibodies overnight. The primary antibodies were rabbit anti-human specific anti-apoE (1:200, Abcam Inc., Cambridge, MA; ab52607), mouse anti-aquaporin 1 (1:200, Abcam. Ab9566), mouse anti-GFAP (1:500, Sigma, G3893), chicken anti-NeuN (1:500, Abcam, ab134014), chicken anti-GFP antibody (Novus Biological,Littleton, CO,USA. NB100-1614). Then, Alexa Fluor-conjugated secondary antibodies were added and incubated for 2 h at room temperature (Life Technologies, 1:500). DAPI (Sigma, 1:2000) was used to identify cell nuclei. Immunofluorescence was visualized using a Bio-Rad MRC500 confocal scanning head attached to an inverted microscope (IX81, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan) controlled by Olympus Fluoview 500 software. For analysis of apoE intensities immunohistochemistry was performed on 100 μm vibratome-cut brain slices. Neurons were identified by NeuN labeling, astrocytes by GFAP expression and blood vessels by lectin staining. Arteries were identified by the red NG2-DsRed expression. NIH ImageJ software (1.47v) was used to measure the intensity of apoE immunoreactivity. Background intensities (5 per image) were measured in the parenchyma of the same field and subtracted from apoE intensities. The intensity of the immunolabeled apoE on the vessel wall and around (a 5 μm band around the vessel) arterial vessels or veins were quantified in the brain regions of three mice. For co-localization of apoE and neurons, a total of 30 neurons were quantified per brain and the average determined. The person analyzing the images and data was blinded to the experimental design.

Intracisternal injections

Mice were anesthetized, fixed to a stereotactic frame and the cisterna magna exposed and cannulated using a 30G needle [26, 42]. Fluorescent tracers (5 μL aCSF containing apoE (0.5%) and cascade blue tagged dextran (10 kDa, 1%) as the reference inert molecule that is not significantly taken up by cells, transported across the BBB or degraded) were injected at 1 μl/min using a Hamilton syringe connected to a Micro Syringe pump controller (Micro 4; World Precision Instruments, Inc.). The same amount of apoE was used for each isoform for comparison. We used a small volume and a slow rate of injection (5 μL at 1 μL/min), that does not significantly increase the intracranial pressure [28], thereby minimizing CSF reflux into the cerebral ventricles from the cisterna magna [26]. ApoE4 and dextran (10 kDa) were used to characterize the technique since, in contrast to the dextran, apoE4 is retained within the brain to a greater extent compared to the other isoforms [6]. These tracers should provide a better resolution of CSF flow around arterial vessels. To quantify the glymphatic fluid inflow into brain, 125I-apoE, at a low concentration (10 nM, due to the greater resolution of radioactivity analysis), and 14C-inulin (6 kDa, 1.0 μCi, an inert molecule) were intracisternally injected at 1 μL/min for 5 min and after 30 min the brain removed and prepared for radioactivity analysis (see below).

Lectin administration

Lectin was administered during the cardio-perfusion stage of the experiment, i.e., intravascularly. The mice were cardio-perfused with cold PBS, containing lectin (0.02 mg/ml), at 2 ml/min for 10 min. This was then followed by perfusion with PFA (4% in PBS), as described above.

In vivo 2-Photon imaging

In anesthetized mice, a craniotomy (3 mm in diameter) was made over the sensory motor cortex. The dura was left intact and the craniotomy was covered with aCSF and sealed with a glass coverslip. To visualize the vasculature, 0.1 ml BBB impermeable Texas Red-dextran 70 (MW 70kD; 1% in saline, Invitrogen) was injected intravenously immediately before imaging. A Mai Tai laser (SpectraPhysics) attached to a confocal scanning system (Fluoview 300, Olympus) and an upright microscope (IX51W, Olympus) was used for in vivo imaging as described [26, 27]. A 20X (0.9NA) water immersion lens was used to image the cortex, from the surface to a depth of ~150 μm at every 5 μm z-steps. We used 870 nm as excitation wavelength and emission was collected at 575-645 nm. The cerebral vasculature was imaged at a resolution of 512 × 512px. FITC-apoE3 was administered intracisternally at 1 μL/min for 5 min and images acquired at 15 min after the injection.

Sleep deprivation

Mice were sleep deprived from 6 to 9 AM and used immediately for the experiment at zeitgeber time 3 (ZT3). Sleep deprivation was maintained by using an enriched environment, containing novel objects and nesting material, to facilitate spontaneous exploration by the mice, as reported [43]. Mice were continuously observed to ensure that they were indeed awake and exploring the objects. Mice that were not exploring the objects were lightly prodded or gently handled to encourage their continuous activity. This method was chosen to minimize stress to the mice [43]. Food and water were freely available.

Brain clearance

Earlier, it was shown that iodination (125I-) of lipidated apoE did not affect its clearance from brain ISF when compared to untagged lipidated apoE [44]. There are differenced in clearance rate between lipid-poor and lipidated apoE [6, 44]. Thus, if there were changes in the apoE lipidated state with iodination then it should have altered its clearance rate. To evaluate solute clearance from the brain, radio-labeled tracers (125I-apoE3 (prepared as we reported [6]) and 14C-inulin (6 kDa, PerkinElmer) were injected stereotaxtically into the left frontal cortex, as we recently reported [27]. Briefly, a stainless steel guide cannula (Plastic One) was implanted stereotaxically into the left frontal cortex of anesthetized mice (2% isoflurane) with the coordinates of the cannula tip at 0.7 mm anterior and 3.0 mm lateral to the bregma, and 1.0 mm below the surface of the brain. Animals were allowed to recover after surgery and the experiments performed 18–24 h after the guide tube cannulation, as reported [45]. Experiments during sleep state and sleep deprivation were performed between ZT3 and ZT4. In each mouse, a small volume of mock CSF (0.5 μL), containing 125I-apoE (10 nM) and 14C-inulin (1.0 μCi), was simultaneously injected (33 GA cannula, Plastic One) into the brain ISF over 5 min. At the end of the experiments (90 min) the brain was removed and prepared for radioactivity analysis. Samples were first counted for gamma radioactivity (125I-apoE) using Wallac 1471 Wizard Automatic Gamma Counter) and counts corrected for TCA-precipitability, as reported [45]. Then all samples were solubilized in 0.5 ml tissue solvable (Perkin Elmer) overnight followed by the addition of 5 ml of scintillation cocktail (Packard Ultima Gold). Samples were then analyzed in a liquid scintillation counter for 14C- radioactivity (LS6500 Multi-purpose Scintillation Counter (Beckman Coulter, GA, USA). Calculations: The percentage of radioactivity remaining in the brain after microinjection was determined as % recovery in brain = 100 x (Nb/Ni) (eq. 1), where, Nb is the radioactivity remaining in the brain at the end of the experiment and Ni is the radioactivity injected into the brain ISF. Total clearance was determined as 100-%recovery. 14C-inulin was used as an inert polar molecule which is neither transported across the BBB nor significantly retained by brain cells; its clearance provides a measure of the ISF bulk flow/convective flow. To confirm that FITC labeling apoE do not affect apoE clearance, we microinjected FITC-apoE3 or 125I-apoE3 intracortically, as above, and after 90 min the apoE3 levels remaining in brain were determined and expressed as a percentage of the injected dose that was cleared from brain, as reported [26, 46]. Levels of FITC-apoE3 were determined fluorometrically, as reported [47] and 125I-apoE3 analyzed as we reported [6].

Flow (Diffusion) radius

A custom ImageJ plugin program was written to analyze apoE distribution radius as a function of distance from the vessel wall. In these studies, horizontal brain sections (100 μm each) from the cortex were used as there were no regional differences in apoE uptake from CSF. Arteries were identified by red NG2-DsRed (smooth muscles) expression in the NG2 DsRed reporter mice, veins were NG2 DsRed negative and the vasculature was labeled with lectin. The vessel diameter was calculated from the brain photomicrographs containing lectin immunofluorescence. The digital images of photomicrographs were used for the image analysis using imageJ software. The plugin plotted the intensity value of the immunofluorescence with respect to distance when a line was drawn across the blood vessel identified by the lectin immunofluorescence. Based on the change in the intensity value the blood vessel diameter was calculated. The cortical brain region was used since penetrating arteries were analyzed and there were no regional differences. All arterial vessels were analyzed in each brain section by a person blinded to the experimental design. Three horizontal brain sections (sensory-motor cortex) were used per mouse brain and there were 5 to 9 mice per group.

Cell culture

Primary cultures of mouse astrocytes and choroid plexus epithelial cells were performed, as reported [40, 48]. In brief, the choroid plexus from the lateral ventricles and 4th ventricle were removed from 15 C57BL6 male mice (4–8 weeks old), digested in 0.4% pronase in Hank’s balanced salt solution (HBSS) and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) containing fetal bovine serum (FBS), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and antibiotics (penicillin/streptomycin) on collagen coated wells. The purity of the choroid plexus epithelial cells was typically >99%, as determined from AQP1 immunolabeling and insignificant levels of astrocytes (GFAP-positive cells), and neurons (NeuN-positive cells). For cultured astrocytes, neocortical astrocytes were prepared from P1 to P4 C57BL/6 mouse pups, as previously described [40]. Briefly, cerebral cortices were separated and meninges were removed. The cortical tissue was dissected and washed three times in HBSS without Ca2+. After trituration and filtering through the 70-μm nylon mesh, the cells were centrifuged at 200 g for 10 min. The pellet was dissociated to single cell suspension in DMEM/F12, containing 1% Penicillin/Streptomycin and 10% FBS, and plated in T25 culture flasks. Typically, cultures with more than 99% of GFAP-positive cells were used in this study. All cells were grown at 37 °C in a humidified incubator (5% CO2/98% humidity). Medium was changed after 24 h and every 3 days thereafter. Conditioned media from the near confluent cells were collected, complete protease inhibitors (Roche Applied Sciences) added, centrifuged at 2000 g for 10 min to remove cellular debris and stored until required for analysis. Cells were then washed with PBS, harvested, pelleted and sonicated in lysis buffer.

Brain extraction

Frozen cerebral cortex was sonicated in eight times volume of ice-cold RIPA lysis buffer, containing complete protease inhibitor (Roche Applied Sciences) and 30 mM β-mercaptoethanol (BME), and centrifuged at 10,000 g for 15 min in a microcentrifuge at 4 °C (Eppendorf). The supernatant was used to determine apoE levels using Western blot analysis. The same amount of total protein was loaded into each well. Protein levels were determined by using a BCA protein assay kit (ThermoFisher, Scientific).

Western blot analysis

ApoE3 levels were determined by western blot analysis. Ice-cold CSF (10 μL) and standards (apoE3, 0.1 mg/ml) were diluted in an equal volume of Laemmli sample buffer (BioRad Laboratories, Hercules, CA; 161-0737) supplemented with 200 mM dithiothreitol (DTT; Sigma). Equal volumes (20 μL) of CSF and apoE3 standards were added to the sample wells of 4–15% Precast Gels (Mini-Protein TGX, BioRad, 456-0783) for electrophoresis under reducing conditions followed by transfer to a nitrocellulose membrane (BioRad, 162-0115) and detection using human specific anti-apoE antibody (Abcam, Ab52607; 1;1000) and a secondary antibody (goat anti-rabbit IgG-HRP, Santa Cruz sc2030; 1:10,000). For mouse apoE levels in brain a mouse specific anti-apoE with extremely low recognition of human apoE [49] was used (1:500; Ab20874, Abcam). Mouse apoE in the conditioned media was detected with an antibody (Calbiochem; Cat # 178479). Blots were developed using enhanced chemiluminescence (SuperSignal, 34077, Pierce, Rockford, IL). Levels of apoE3 in CSF were determined from the linear part of the standard curve that was generated from the intensities of Western blots of known amounts of apoE3. The relative abundance of human and mouse apoE in brain were determined with reference to β-actin. Conditioned media from the primary cultures of choroid epithelial cells and astrocytes were concentrated by ultrafiltration using a 10 kDa cut-off filter (Amicon Ultra Centrifuge Filters, 10 k NMWL, Merck Millipore, Cork, Ireland). The wells were loaded with equal volume of the concentrated conditioned media, and un-saturated intensities standardized to the protein concentration of the cultured cells.

ApoE ELISA

Human apoE3 levels were determined using a human apoE specific ELISA kit (Abcam, Ab 108813) by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Samples of CSF from controls (Lenti-EGFP) were used to confirm human specificity. This signal was subtracted from the signal obtained in the CSF collected from the lenti-apoE3 transduced mice. Levels of apoE3 were determined from a standard curve.

Statistical analysis

Data were analyzed using either Student’s t test when comparing two groups or analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc Tukey test when comparing more than two groups. The differences were considered to be significant at p < 0.05. All values were expressed as mean ± SEM.

Results

While apoE is expressed in many types of brain cells [17], astrocytic endfeet surrounding the large blood vessels displays high levels of apoE immunolabeling [50, 51], but it is unclear whether these vessels are arteries or veins. To assess whether apoE levels differ in the astrocytes surrounding arteries and veins, we used NG2-DsRed reporter mice in which arterial vessels (vascular smooth muscle cells) and pericytes, but not veins, are labeled with DsRed [26, 31]. Higher endogenous apoE immunolabeling around large arteries and arterioles than that around large veins in several regions (cortex, hippocampus and striatum) was consistently observed (Fig. 1a-i). While there were no regional differences, quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of apoE showed that the intensity on the vessel wall and around arterial vessels was about 2.3-3.0-fold and 2.1-2.5-fold greater compared to that on the walls and around veins, respectively (Fig. 1j). Since this distribution pattern may reflect a greater density of astrocyte on the arterial vessel walls compared to that of veins, astrocytes were immunolabeled with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocytic marker. The number of GFAP-positive astrocytic processes on arterial vessels that were labeled with endogenous apoE was greater than that on veins (Additional file 1: Figure S1A-G), as reported [52], which confirms the data shown in Fig. 1. Thus, this distinct distribution pattern may reflect higher levels of astrocytic-derived apoE around arterial vessels, or alternatively, that CSF apoE enters along the peri-arterial space and is taken up primarily by astrocytes surrounding larger arteries and arterioles. If so, this spatial distribution of endogenous apoE suggests the existence of a polarized (arteries to veins) transport system that facilitates its distribution within the ISF.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Greater levels of arterial endogenous mouse apoE than that on veins. Representative images of arteries and veins in brain regions (a, d and g at low magnification. Scale bar (100 μm). b cortical arteries with NG2-DsRed positive smooth muscle cells immunostained for apoE (blue) and (c) cortical vein lacking smooth muscle cells and with little apoE. Scale bar (50 μm). Similar pattern of apoE immunolabeling on arteries (e and h) and veins (f and i) in the hippocampus (d-f) and striatum (g-i). Blue, apoE; red, NG2-dsRed; green, Lectin. j Quantification of the apoE intensities on the vessel wall and around (a 5 μm circle around the vessel) arteries and veins in the different brain regions (cortex (Cx), hippocampus (HP) and striatum (ST)). Arterial wall (red column), peri-arterial (orange), vein (blue), peri-venous (green). White box (arterial vessels). Yellow box (venous vessels) Values are mean ± SEM. N = 4 mice per group

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We then explored whether apoE in CSF enters brain via the perivascular space. First, we intracisternally administered Alexa-647 labeled human-lipidated apoE4 (apoE4-647) and a reference molecule, cascade blue-labeled dextran (CB; 10 kDa, fixable) (Fig. 2a), to establish the appropriate time point for further studies. At various post-injection times, mice were perfusion-fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) followed by horizontal (rather than coronal) brain section. These procedures allowed us to evaluate apoE distribution as a function of distance from the vessel wall. To clearly visualize the entire vasculature, lectin, a vascular marker, was administered intravascularly. Radial distribution pattern of both molecules (CB > apoE4-647) was seen around arterial vessels but not veins (Additional file 2: Figure S2A-B). The radial distribution increased progressively with post-injected time with CB distributing, due to the bulk flow of ISF, further from the vessel wall than that of apoE4-647 (Fig. 2b-e). Surprisingly, the distribution of apoE4-647 was limited and quickly approached equilibration. Interestingly, the distribution of non-lipidated apoE4-647 was greater than that of lipidated apoE4-647 (Additional file 3: Figure S3A-H), which may explain the higher ISF clearance of non-lipidated apoE isoforms compared to their lipidated counterparts [6]. The distance of apoE distribution from the vessels wall was then standardized to that of the reference molecule (Fig. 2f). We selected 15 min after the intracisternal injection to study the CSF inflow into brain since it appears that equilibration occurs at about 25 min and to allow for changes, either increase or decrease.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Distribution of CSF apoE4 around arteries but not veins (a) Schematic diagram showing the intracisternal injection site. b-d Representative images of apoE4-647 (red) and dextran-cascade blue (CB) radial distribution at 10, 25 and 50 min post-intracisternal injection. Scale bar = 100 μm. e Distribution distance of apoE4 and CB at different post-injection times. f ApoE4 distribution distance standardized as a percentage of that of CB. Values are mean ± SEM. N = 4. The vasculature was outlined by intravascular labeling with lectin (green)

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To confirm the highway by which CSF-derived apoE enters into brain, we used two-photon laser scanning microscope to visualize the pathway along vessels through a closed cranial window in anesthetized mice. The cerebrovasculature was clearly visualized by intravascular injection of the BBB impermeable Texas red-dextran (70 kDa). Intracisternal injected apoE3-647 entered the perivasculature space along surface arteries and penetrating arterioles (Fig. 3a-h), as reported for other molecules [26, 27]. Inflow of CSF-derived apoE3-647 at 15 min after the intracisternal injection was seen within the periarterial space at various depths below the brain surface (Fig. 3b-h). We then used ex vivo brain sections to confirm these results and apoE’s presence in other parts of the vasculature, such as capillaries and veins. ApoE3-647 and CB (10 kDa) were intracisternally injected and lectin was administered intravascularly to label vessels in NG2-DsRed reporter mice. We confirm the presence of apoE3-647 and CB in the perivascular space of arterial vessels and their distribution into the parenchyma (Fig. 4a-h). To confirm the clearance routes, apoE3-647 and CD was injected (0.5 μL at 0.1 μL/min) into the parenchyma (caudate putamen) and after 60 min the brain sections analyzed for the location of these molecules along vessels. ApoE3-647 and CB was present along capillaries (Fig. 4i-k) and deep cerebral parenchymal veins (Fig. 4l-m). Clearance of apoE was confirmed by using 125I-apoE3 (10 nM) and 125I-apoE4 (10 nM), as shown (Additional file 3: Figure S3I). Iodination (125I-apoE) does not affect clearance when compared to unlabeled apoE [44]. Furthermore, FITC labeling of apoE3 does not affect it clearance when compared to 125I-apoE3 (Additional file 3: Figure S3J).

Fig. 3
figure 3

ApoE periarterial inflow using in vivo 2-photon imaging (a) Pial surface arterial vessels showing apoE3-FITC within the perivascular space of arteries. b-g ApoE3-FITC along the perivascular space of penetrating arterial vessel at various depths below the brain surface. h Magnified image of the white boxed area in (panel b) (scale bar 50 μm). Following intracisternal injection (5 μL at 1 μL/min) of apoE3-FITC images were acquired every 25 μm below the brain surface at 15 min. The scale bar in (panel g) is 50 μm. Panels a-g are at the same magnification. The vasculature was identified by intravenously injected Texas Red-dextran (70 kDa)

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Fig. 4
figure 4

ApoE is cleared from brain along perivascular pathways a Low magnification image showing the distribution of intracisternally injected apoE3-647 and cascade blue (10 kDa) in brain 15 min after their injection (5 μL at 1 μL/min). b-d Magnified images of the boxed area in (panel a). e Magnified images of the boxed area in (panel d). f-h Cross section of a cortical penetrating artery showing the perivascular flow of apoE3-647 and cascade blue. i Intensity graph of the various fluorescent markers across the white line drawn in (panel h). j-l Presence of apoE3-647 and cascade blue in a representative cortical capillary 60 min after intraparenchymal injection (caudate nucleus, 0.5 μL at 0.1 μL/min). m-n Presence of apoE3-647 and cascade blue in a representative deep cerebral parenchymal vein 60 min after intraparenchymal injection (caudate nucleus). Intracisternal apoE3-647 (magenta) and cascade blue (blue) entered brain via the penetrating cortical arterial vessels (red) and distributed within the parenchyma. Panels a-h are images after intracisternal injection of apoE3-647 and cascade blue in NG2-DsRed reporter mice. Lectin-FITC was injected intravascularly to identify vessels. Panels j-n are images after intraparenchymal (caudate nucleus) injection of apoE3-647 and cascade blue in NG2-DsRed reporter mice. Scale bars: A = 100 μm, B-D = 50 μm, E-H and J-N =10 μm. PVS = perivascular space

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Next, the distribution of the three apoE isoforms was compared to establish whether there are isoform-specific effects. Unexpectedly, the radial distribution from the arterial wall was apoE isoform specific, with apoE2 and apoE3 having greater radial flow than that of apoE4 even though the particle size of each isoform was similar and the same amount of apoE was injected (Fig. 5a-d). The distribution radius of apoE2 was 1.75-fold greater than apoE3, which in turn was 2-fold greater than apoE4. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that apoE binds avidly to apoE receptors and that the brain retention of apoE4 is greater that apoE3 and apoE2 [6, 53–55], and thus, bulk flow of apoE4 is much more restricted compared to apoE2. The distribution distance of CB was not affected by the apoE isoforms (Additional file 4: Figure S4). To determine whether apoE4 degradation contributed to its restricted distribution, radiolabeled apoE (10 nM) was intracisternally injected and after 30 min the brain was removed and TCA-precipitable radioactivity assessed. The level of TCA-precipitable 125I-apoE (intact apoE) in the brain was similar for each isoform (Additional file 5: Figure S5). Thus, there was no significant difference in apoE degradation between the isoforms, as reported for up to 300 min [6, 44]. To establish whether CSF apoE is an important source of neuronal apoE, we intracisternally injected FITC-apoE3, and after 15 min, perfused and PFA fixed the brain. Brain sections were then immunolabeled with NeuN, a neuronal specific nuclear biomarker that is used extensively. The CSF injected FITC-apoE3 was associated with peri-arterial neurons (NeuN-positive cells; Fig. 5e). Interestingly, apoE was associated with the nucleus, as reported [56, 57]. Intracisternal injected FITC-ovalbumin (45 kDa) or FITC-dextran (40 kDa, fixable) was not present in the nucleus of neurons (Additional file 6: Figure S6 A-H). However, intracisternal injected unlabeled apoE3, detected with a specific anti-human apoE antibody, was present in the nucleus (Additional file 6: Figure S6 I-L). Thus, CSF apoE enters the brain parenchyma via the periarterial space, taken up by neuronal cells and some of the apoE enters the nucleus.

Fig. 5
figure 5

ApoE-isoform specific distribution around arteries. a-c Representative images of apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4 (colored red) radial distribution 15 min following their intracisternal injections. Scale bar 100 μm for the left panels and 50 μm for the middle/right panels. d Quantification of the distribution distance from the arteries. Values are mean ± SEM. N = 5–9. e FITC-apoE3 in the CSF binding to NeuN- positive neurons (red) in the vicinity of arteries. White arrows point to apoE3/NeuN- double positive cells (the image is 100 μm wide). The vasculature was outlined by intravascular labeling with lectin (blue)

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Since AQP4 mediates ISF distribution we used Aqp4 −/− mice, as reported in similar studies [26]. The radial distribution of apoE3 was considerably reduced in the Aqp4 −/− mice compared to littermate controls (Fig. 6a-c). Similarly, cascade blue labeled dextran (10 kDa) distribution was reduced (Additional file 7: Figure S7A-B). In addition, in Aqp4 −/− mice, the brain uptake of 125I-apoE2, 125I-apoE3 and 125I-apoE4 (10 nM), after their intracisternal injection, was equally suppressed (Additional file 7: Figure S7C). Similarly, 14C-inulin brain uptake was reduced and not affected by apoE isoforms (Additional file 7: Figure S7D). A previously report has shown that other CSF tracers, such as Aβ and ovalbumin, were reduced by 60% in Aqp4 −/− mice [26]. Thus, CSF apoE is distributed into brain parenchyma by glymphatic fluid transport in a radial pattern around arterial vessels.

Fig. 6
figure 6

CSF apoE distribution in brain is reduced in Aqp4 −/− mice. Representative images of FITC-apoE3 radial distribution from the arteries in littermate controls (a) and Aqp4 −/− (b) mice. c Quantification of the distribution distance from the arteries. Values are mean ± SEM, N = 5 mice per group

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ApoE, produced by the choroid plexus and secreted into the CSF, could be an important source of ISF apoE, since CSF is circulated through the brain parenchyma by glymphatic fluid transport [26, 27, 29, 30]. To test whether apoE produce by the choroid plexus is delivered to the brain parenchyma, we transduced the choroid plexus with a lentivirus encoding a human apoE construct (lenti-apoE3) and mapped apoE3 distribution with a human specific apoE antibody. First, we injected lenti-EGFP into the lateral ventricle and found that it intensely transduced the choroid plexus and ependymal cells but not parenchymal cells (Additional file 8: Figure S8A-E). We confirmed that endogenous apoE is highly expressed in the choroid plexus (Additional file 9: Figure S9). We next found that lenti-apoE3 delivered intraventricularly intensely transduced the choroid plexus and ependymal layer, as seen for lenti-EGFP (Fig. 7a-d; Additional file 8: Figure S8A-E). In addition, apoE3 neuronal uptake increased with post-transduction time (Fig. 7e-l). To confirm that the lentivirus did not transduce neurons and astrocytes, we injected a mixture of lenti-EGFP and lenti-apoE3 into the lateral ventricle and after 4 weeks analyzed brain sections. In these experiments a mixture of both lenti-EGFP and lenti-apoE3 was used since the IRES bicistronic expression of EGFP is low compared to that of apoE3 in this expression cassette. Thus, to get a good EGFP signal we used a mixture of both lenti-EGFP (to identify the transduced cells only) and lenti-apoE3 (to identify the expressed apoE3 by immunolabeling) to achieve a more rigorous test of the transduced cells. In Additional file 10: Figure S10, EGFP expression (lenti-EGFP) shows the transduced cells, i.e., only the choroid plexus and ependymal layer. In contrast, human apoE3 secreted by the transduced cells (lenti-apoE3) was detected by immunolabeling, and shown to be present in these regions and in the brain parenchyma (Additional file 10: Figure S10 A-H). Thus, the lentivirus was taken up only by local cells, the choroid plexus and ependymal cells, as shown for viral transduction [49, 58].

Fig. 7
figure 7

ApoE3 levels in brain cells increase following lenti-apoE3 transduction of the choroid plexus. a Lenti-apoE3 effectively transduced the choroid plexus and ependymal layer at 1 week post-transduction. ApoE3 immunolabeled with a human specific anti-apoE antibody. b-d Choroid plexus expression of apoE3 at 8 weeks post-transduction. Scale bar 100 μm. AQP1 (red; b); apoE3 (green; c) and merged images (d). e-j Parenchymal human apoE3 (green) at 1 (e-f), 4(g-h) and 8 (i-j) weeks post-transduction. Scale bar 100 μm. Neurons: NeuN-positive cells (blue). Astrocytes: GFAP -positive cells (red). k Human specific anti-apoE does not react with endogenous mouse apoE. l Quantification of apoE3 intensities in neurons (apoE co-localization with NeuN-positive cells) with post-transduction time. Lenti-apoE3 delivered intraventricularly (3 μL lenti- apoE (4.06 × 108 TU/ml) and after 1 to 8 weeks the brains were perfusion fixed (PFA) followed by immunolabeling of brain sections. Representative images from 5 mice per group. Values are mean ± SEM. N = 5

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In addition, human apoE3, determined by Western blot analysis and by ELISA with a human specific anti-apoE antibody, was present in CSF collected from the lenti-apoE3 transduced mice (Fig. 8a-c). Furthermore, primary culture of mouse choroid plexus epithelial cells secreted similar levels of apoE compared to primary culture of mouse astrocytes (Additional file 11: Figure S11A-B). The purity of the cultured choroid plexus epithelial cells and astrocytes were typically >99% (Additional file 11: Figure S11C-F). Mouse brain apoE levels were unchanged in the lenti-apoE3 transduced mice compared to that of the lenti-EGFP transduced mice (Fig. 8d-e). While an accurate determination of human apoE levels cannot be compared to mouse apoE since different antibodies were used, the estimated brain apoE3 levels in the transduced mice represent about 25% of the endogenous mouse apoE (Fig. 8d-e). Taken together these data show that apoE3, secreted by the choroid plexus into CSF, was delivered to the brain via glymphatic fluid transport [26].

Fig. 8
figure 8

Increased CSF and brain apoE3 levels in lenti-apoE3 transduced choroid plexus. a Representative Western blots of apoE3 standards (top) and apoE3 in CSF and plasma from lenti-EGFP (controls) and lenti-apoE3 transduced mice. Quantification of CSF apoE3 levels by Western blot analysis at 4 weeks post-transduction (b), and by ELISA at 4 (left) and 8 (right) weeks post-transduction (c). d Levels of brain endogenous apoE and human apoE3 in the transduced mice. e Quantification of mouse apoE levels by Western blot analysis. Values are mean ± SEM. N = 4-5. Intraventricular (unilateral) injection of 3 μL lenti-human apoE (4.06 × 108 TU/ml) or 3 μL lenti-EGFP (1012 TU/ml). At 4 and 8 weeks post-transduction samples of CSF, plasma and brain were collected

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We have shown that glymphatic inflow of CSF into brain was reduced in mice that were awake compared to the sleep state [27]. Thus, we reasoned that lack of sleep would reduce CSF inflow into brain and thereby, decrease the delivery of CSF-derived apoE to brain. Mice were sleep deprived for 3 h and the flow of CSF-derived apoE3 into brain determined at zeigeber time 3 (ZT3; Fig. 9a). The analysis showed that sleep deprivation significantly reduced the radial distribution of apoE3 around arterial vessels compared to mice on normal sleep cycle (Fig. 9b-f). Similarly, the radial distribution of cascade blue labeled-dextran was reduced in sleep deprivation (Additional file 1: Figure S12A-B). In addition, inflow of CSF-derived 125I-apoE2, 125I-apoE3 and 125I-apoE4 (10 nM) and 14C-inulin into brain was reduced to the same degree during sleep deprivation (Additional file 12: Figure S12C-D). Interestingly, clearance of 125I-apoE3 (10 nM) and 14C-inulin from the ISF was also reduced in the sleep deprived mice compared to those in the sleep state (Fig. 9g-i).

Fig. 9
figure 9

Sleep deprivation reduces the apoE3 arterial radial diffusion and clearance. a Schematic representation of the experimental design. Representative images at low (left) and high (right) magnification of the cortex (b) and hippocampus (c) in mice on normal sleep cycle. Representative images at low (left) and high (right) magnification of the cortex (d) and hippocampus (e) in sleep deprived mice. f of the distribution distance from the arteries in the cortex of control (sleep (S); clear column) and sleep deprived (SD; red column) mice. Fluorescently-tagged apoE3 was injected into cisterna magna of NG2dsRed reporter mice and perfusion fixed (PFA) at 15 min. The vasculature was outline by lectin (gray). ApoE, green; NG2-dsRed, red. Scale bars 100 μm (A-D, left), 50 μm (A-D, right). g Schematic diagram showing the intracortical injection site. h-i 125I-ApoE3 and 14C-inulin clearance from the frontal cortex in the sleep and sleep deprived states. Values are mean ± SEM. N = 5 mice per group

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Discussion

The analysis presented here shows, for the first time, that choroid plexus/CSF-derived apoE is delivered into brain, via glymphatic fluid transport, in an apoE-isoform specific (apoE2 > apoE3 > apoE4) radial distribution pattern around penetrating arterial vessels, but not veins. Aqp4 −/− mice exhibited a significant decrease in the apoE distribution in brain due to the reduced ISF bulk flow and apoE-isoform distribution cannot be resolved, i.e., loss of the isoform specific distribution. Perhaps most interestingly, sleep deprivation was associated with a striking reduction in CSF delivered apoE to the parenchyma, and a loss of apoE-isoform specific distribution into brain also due to the reduced ISF bulk flow. These observations of radial apoE distribution from arterial vessels of CSF-derived apoE support the novel concept of a macroscopic distribution mechanism of compounds secreted by the choroid plexus into brain. Speculating, failure of glymphatic CSF inflow into brain, as in sleep deprivation, may, in the long-term, contribute to apoE related disorders and eventually neurodegenerative diseases [59–62].

It’s well established that the choroid plexus is a major source of CSF [63–65]. However, the choroid plexus also secretes essential substances into CSF, such as transthyretin, which binds thyroxine to facilitate its distribution within CSF and brain [66, 67]. In addition, blood-derived molecules, such as apoA1, enter brain via the choroid plexus [68]. Glymphatic fluid transport may be the medium for the delivery of these molecules from CSF to brain. There are a number of findings that collectively strongly indicates that the choroid plexus also regulates the levels of apoE. In Abca1 −/− mice, brain apoE levels were reduced [11, 69], but CSF levels were almost completely suppressed [11]. Liver X receptors (LXR) are sensors of cellular cholesterol that regulate the expression of apoE, (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and other genes involve in lipid metabolism. Activating LXR in the CNS increases CSF levels of apoE and cholesterol more profoundly compared to brain levels. LXR activation increases apoE expression in the choroid plexus [21], and ABCA1 levels and cholesterol release from the choroid plexus [20]. Despite these observations the significance of this source of apoE to brain parenchyma apoE levels has been ignored. Since the glymphatic system allows CSF to enter brain by bulk flow, apoE in the CSF may contribute to parenchymal apoE. While neurons can synthesize cholesterol they may need additional cholesterol delivered in the form of apoE-associated cholesterol [9]. In the Niemann-Pick type C1 mouse, which has a mutant NPC1 gene, cholesterol accumulates in the late endosome and lysosomes in neurons, suggesting uptake of apoE-associated cholesterol via clathrin-coated pit pathway [70, 71]. Interestingly, the expression of apoE in astrocytes, the main producer of brain apoE, is not uniform in brain [17].

ApoE, a cargo transporter and a cell signal molecule, has essential and diverse role in the CNS [7]. It’s involved in neuritic growth, synaptic plasticity, regeneration and remyelination of axon and cognition [72]. As a cargo transporter it distributes cholesterol within body fluids and essential for the delivery of cholesterol and lipids to cells [25]. Our data demonstrated that CSF may serve as a medium for the delivery of apoE to brain via glymphatic fluid transport, as reported for other solutes, such as Aβ [26, 30], lipophilic molecules [29] and tau [73]. Within brain, ISF is distribute by bulk flow, which has been established using inert molecules that is not significantly taken up by receptor mediated transport into cells, degraded or transported across the BBB [74–86]. We have confirmed bulk flow of ISF since inert molecules of different molecule weights (mannitol 180 Da vs dextran 10,000 Da and inulin 6,000 Da vs dextran 40,000 Da) are cleared at the same rate, i.e., bulk flow [26, 46]. Earlier reports suggested that molecules transported along the peri-vascular space occurs in the opposite direction to cerebral blood flow, i.e., brain to CSF [50, 51, 87, 88]. Flow of ISF from brain to CSF may occurs along the vascular basement [86]. While it is possible for bidirectional trafficking along the vessel [86], more investigation will be needed to clarify this fully.

What is the importance of CSF-derived apoE to brain apoE since astrocytes produce apoE? Primary astrocytes in culture secrete apoE [14], and this could be taken up into local neurons by receptor-mediated endocytosis [89]. Our data show that CSF-derived apoE is taken up by neurons, in vivo. Thus, astrocyte-derived apoE is not completely blocking CSF-derived apoE from accessing these cells. In other words, astrocytic apoE is not saturating all apoE receptors on the cell surface that would prevent the uptake of CSF-derived apoE. Thus, CSF-derived apoE may be an important source of brain apoE. The glymphatic fluid transport of CSF-derived apoE may also prevent dilution and wash out of astrocyte-secreted apoE, and facilitate a wider distribution of apoE within the parenchyma. In addition, glymphatic re-circulation of apoE may contribute to its slow turnover rate [90], and retention within brain [6].

ApoE polymorphism influences its structure and function [4]. Compared to apoE2 and apoE3, the arginine residue at position 112 of apoE4 may promote interactions between the N-terminal (receptor-binding region) and C-terminal (lipid-binding region) domains, which causes instability [4, 24]. Thus, the apoE isoform specific radial distribution of CSF-derived apoE around arteries could reflect its cellular uptake, which restricts the flow of apoE within the ISF, especially apoE4. Cells along the glymphatic pathways express many types of apoE receptors, such as low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and LDLR-related protein 1 (LRP1). These receptors are expressed in many cell types, including vascular smooth muscles, neurons, glia and endothelial cell [91–93]. Lipidated apoE, the normal form of apoE and the apoE used in the present studies, avidly binds to apoE receptors [6, 53, 94, 95]. There are subtle differences in the binding constants of each apoE isoform to apoE receptors [94]. For example, apoE2 binds LDLR 50- to 100-times weaker than apoE3 and apoE4 and this may explains it greater distribution radius [96]. Interestingly, apoE isoform specific retention within brain (apoE4 > apoE3 > apoE2) [6] corroborate the data obtained for their radial distribution from the arterial wall (apoE4 < apoE3 < apoE2).

Glymphatic activity is regulated by the sleep/wake state: with inflow of CSF into brain greater during the sleep state compared to wakefulness [27]. Sleep is also required for greater bulk flow of brain ISF and clearance of solutes [27], consolidation of memory and plasticity [60]. Many studies have focused on the effect of sleep deprivation on synaptic plasticity at the molecular and electrophysiological levels, and on the structural aspects of brain regions associated with learning and memory, such as the hippocampus [97]. To our knowledge there are no studies on the effect of sleep deprivation on brain-wide delivery of CSF-derived apoE. While many factors may contribute to the mechanism for the observed changes during sleep eprivation [98], increased noradrenaline levels [99, 100] may play a role in reducing glymphatic fluid transport, as reported [27]. The causes of sleep deprivation are complex and multifactorial, which involves many biological factors, including metabolic and neurotransmitter changes [101, 102]. We use a milder procedure to induce sleep deprivation to minimize major changes. CSF inflow into brain via the periarterial space and ISF clearance are reduced during wakefulness compared to the sleep state, and antagonist of norepinephrine induced a sleep-like response in CSF inflow [27]. It is possible that norepinephrine released during ‘sleep deprivation stress,’ even though this was minimized, may contribute to the reduced CSF inflow and ISF clearance. Interstitial levels of norepinephrine are increased in the unstrained mice compared to mice in the sleep-like state [27]. Sleep deprivation may increase the sympathetic tone [103], especially in mice that are sleep deprived for the first time and when they want to sleep (light switched off). Norepinephrine may cause vasoconstriction of pial arteries [104], and this may contribute to the reduced CSF inflow during sleep deprivation. Recently, it was show that Aβ40 in CSF caused a reduction in CSF inflow via the periarterial space, possible due to vasoconstriction of pial arteries [30]. Thus, impaired CSF inflow during sleep deprivation may be due to vasoconstriction of the pial vessels, and this may also contribute to the reduced glymphatic fluid transport. Speculating, failure in the delivery of CSF-derived apoE to brain during sleep deprivation may limit the brain-wide distribution of apoE and other essential substances to brain cells, which may, in the long-term, contribute to apoE related dysfunction [105–108]. Further work is needed to explore other possible mechanisms.

The implications of these findings are that reduced glymphatic inflow into brain, as seen in sleep deprivation, the wake state [27], aging [42] and in brain injury and trauma [46, 73], could reduce the delivery and distribution of apoE to brain, which may lead to apoE related disorder in the long-term. However, a dilemma is that the apoE isoform specific restriction to arteries may lead to the development of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), vascular dementia and AD. The apoE4 isoform predisposes heightened susceptibility to AD and CAA [109, 110]. Intriguingly, the reduced glymphatic perivascular flow with aging and brain injury may facilitate the development of CAA due to the slower transit time that will cause greater cellular binding/update of apoE, especially apoE4. While apoE2 has the longest distribution it was reported to be associated with greater incidence of micro hemorrhage as was apoE4 [111–113].

Gene therapy targeting the choroid plexus to enhance the production of apoE2 or to produce apoE2 in apoE4 allele carriers may extend the apoE distribution radius [114]. Viral transduction was effective in selectively transducing the choroid plexus and ependymal cells [49, 58]. The use of lentivirus to target the choroid plexus, via intraventricular injection, could minimize tissue injury due to intra-cerebral injections [115]. Further work is needed in a model of AD to evaluate the effect of this intervention on glymphatic fluid transport and in preventing cognitive decline. Despite decades of research it is still unclear whether therapies to lower or increase brain cholesterol is require to treat AD [49, 116, 117]. Altering CSF apoE levels may provide better insights into the level and form of apoE require for its sustained beneficial effects. Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of our working model.

Fig. 10
figure 10

Schematic diagram of our working model for apoE delivery and distribution by the glymphatic system. This schematic diagram shows the parenchymal distribution of CSF-derived apoE isoform-specific convective flow/bulk flow pattern (apoE2 > apoE3 > apoE4) around an artery. CSF-derived apoE is present on the vessel wall and around the artery. The apoE distribution is shown as a circle around the artery for simplicity but its bulk flow (unequal distribution around the artery). Within the brain there are many cells, such as neurons, astrocytes that express many membrane bound receptors that avidly binds apoE. Symbols: A - penetrating arteriole; V - vein; - apoE; - AQP4; There are many different types of apoE receptors, such as - apoE receptor mainly on astrocyte and - apoE receptor mainly on neuron

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Conclusion

The analysis shows, for the first time to our knowledge, the following:

  1. 1)

    Choroid plexus/CSF-derived apoE is rapidly delivered into brain, via glymphatic fluid transport, in an apoE isoform specific (apoE2 > apoE3 > apoE4) radial distribution pattern around arterial vessels, but not veins.

  2. 2)

    Aqp4 −/− mice exhibited a significant decrease in the apoE distribution in brain.

  3. 3)

    ApoE3, delivered to the choroid plexus by lentivirus, was present in the CSF and delivered to brain cells via the perivascular space.

  4. 4)

    Sleep deprivation was associated with a reduction in CSF inflow into brain and clearance from the parenchyma.

  5. 5)

    These observations of radial apoE distribution from arterial vessels of CSF-derived apoE support the novel concept of a macroscopic distribution mechanism of compounds secreted by the choroid plexus into brain via the CSF inflow along the periarterial space.

  6. 6)

    Speculating, failure of this glymphatic CSF inflow into brain, as in sleep deprivation, may, in the long-term, contributes to apoE related dysfunction.