PICALM is a gene that encodes the phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein (PICALM), which plays a major role in endocytosis, receptor internalization, and the intracellular trafficking of endocytic proteins. It is normally expressed abundantly in the brain endothelium. We have discovered that PICALM is a controlling factor in Aβ transport across the blood brain barrier (BBB) and Aβ clearance from the brain. As a result, endothelial loss of PICALM in the brain is associated with greater Aβ and AD pathology. This protein is critical for regulation of Aβ levels and neuronal homeostasis, and is a highly validated genetic risk factor for AD.
View our paper on PICALM in PubMed