Transgenic potato expressing Aβ reduce Aβ burden in Alzheimer’s disease mouse model

Abstract

Beta amyloid (Aβ) is believed one of the major pathogens of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and the reduction of Aβ is considered a primary therapeutic target. Immunization with Aβ can reduce Aβ burden and pathological features in transgenic AD model mice. Transgenic potato plants were made using genes encoding 5 tandem repeats of Aβ1–42 peptides with an ER retention signal. Amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice (Tg2576) fed with transgenic potato tubers with adjuvant showed a primary immune response and a partial reduction of Aβ burden in the brain. Thus, Aβ tandem repeats can be expressed in transgenic potato plants to form immunologically functional Aβ, and these potatoes has a potential to be used for the prevention and treatment of AD.