Apolipoprotein E, an important player in longevity and age-related diseases

Numerous murine models are available for the study of the human aging process. Most of these models are based on known mutations that cause progeroid disease in humans or are involved in DNA repair and cell senescence. While these models certainly have contributed to our knowledge of age-related diseases, none adequately represent the range of human ailments involving cardiovascular and neurocognitive deterioration. In the current review, we summarize the available murine models of aging to date. We then discuss the known involvement of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in various symptoms of the human aging process and describe the corresponding age-related phenotypes presented by the ApoE knockout mouse. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.