BRUCE TETER, PhD

based in Sepulveda, California

Dr. Teter's research focuses on the neurobiology of apolipoprotein E (apoE), the mechanisms of regeneration in the brain, and the role this may play in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD).

ApoE is the major genetic risk factor for sporadic AD. The apoE4 isotype may accelerate the age of onset of AD by inhibiting compensatory regenerative responses like neuronal sprouting, as a consequence of its role in lipid metabolism. Studies using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures from apoE transgenic mice have shown that apoE4 represents a gain-of-negative activity in supporting neuronal sprouting. This may have important implications for the pharmacogenetic efficacy of therapeutic drugs for AD that modulate the expression of the apoE gene. Future studies include evaluation of such drug effects on apoE expression, using anti-inflammatories and anti-oxidants.

Dr. Teter received a Ph.D. degree in molecular biology from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, in 1991. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neurogerontology working with Dr. Caleb Finch at the Andrus Gerontology Center. In 1992, Dr. Teter was appointed Research Associate at the Andrus Gerontology Center, and stayed at USC until joining UCLA in 1996,  joining the lab of Dr. Greg Cole. Dr. Teter is currently Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UCLA, and Chief of the ApoE Research Laboratory, and Research Associate at GRECC, Veterans Administration, GLAHS.

Key words: ApoE

Dr. Teter articles at PubMed | Dr. Teter editorial contact