Endothelium-specific deletion of amyloid-β precursor protein exacerbates endothelial dysfunction induced by aging.

Abstract

The physiological function of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the control of endothelial function during aging is unclear. Aortas of young (4-6 months old) and aged (23-26 months old) wild-type (WT) and endothelium-specific APP-deficient (eAPP−/−) mice were used to study aging-induced changes in vascular phenotype. Unexpectedly, aging significantly increased protein expression of APP in aortas of WT mice but not in aortas of eAPP−/− mice thereby demonstrating selective upregulation APP expression in vascular endothelium of aged aortas. Most notably, endothelial dysfunction (impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations) induced by aging was significantly exacerbated in aged eAPP−/− mice aortas as compared to age-matched WT mice. Consistent with this observations, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression was significantly decreased in aged eAPP−/− mice as compared to age matched WT mice. In addition, protein expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and release of prostaglandins were significantly increased in both aged WT and eAPP−/− mice. Notably, treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, normalized endothelium-dependent relaxations in aged WT mice, but not in aged eAPP−/− mice. In aggregate, our findings support the concept that aging-induced upregulation of APP in vascular endothelium is an adaptive response designed to protect and preserve expression and function of eNOS.