High level expression of OSBPL11 is associated with atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.

With the global aging population, the incidence of aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and atherosclerosis (AS) is increasing. AS has also been identified as a key risk factor for AD. However, the conjoint molecular mechanisms driving these diseases remain unclear. This study first used bioinformatics analysis to analyze gene expression data in the cortex of AD patients and plaques of AS patients. We identified OSBPL11 as a gene whose expression co-increased under both conditions, and it is expressed in macrophages in AS patients and astrocytes in AD patients. Further validation was conducted through patient sample collection and an ApoE^-/- mouse model. Strikingly, our findings suggest that OSBPL11 plays a role in the development of both AS and AD, and that there is increased co-localization of OSBPL11 with macrophages and astrocytes. This discovery offers new insights into the association between AS and AD and offers a new target for the treatment AS and AD.