The angiotensin 1-converting enzyme insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism does not influence the extent of amyloid or tau pathology in patients with sporadic Alzheimer's disease

An insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism in the angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has, in some studies, been associated with increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and functionally the enzyme has been implicated in the degradation of amyloid β protein (Aβ). We have investigated the frequency of the I/D polymorphism in a clinic-based and autopsy-confirmed series of cases of AD, and investigated what impact the I/D polymorphism in ACE gene might have on the extent of Aβ and tau pathology in the frontal cortex in the autopsy-confirmed series. We found no differences in I/D allele or genotype frequencies between the clinic-based and autopsy-confirmed AD cases, or between the pooled clinic-based and autopsy-confirmed AD cases and a series of normal control subjects. Moreover, Aβ (Aβ 40 and Aβ 42) load, tau load or extent of amyloid angiopathy did not differ between D/D, I/D and I/I genotype groups, though Aβ 42 load tended to be higher in bearers of I/I genotype (compared to D/D genotype). Neither age at onset nor duration of illness differed according to genotype. We conclude therefore that the frequency of ACE I-allele is not increased in AD and, in autopsy-confirmed AD cases, possession of the ACE I allele has no impact upon the pathology of AD, at least in terms of the amount of Aβ or tau deposited in the brain.