Affect Amyloid Precursor Protein Research Articles

Discovery of potent and selective dual cholinesterases and β-secretase inhibitors in pomegranate as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extract has been reported to inhibit cholinesterase and the β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1); however, most of its constituents’ potential inhibition of these enzymes remains unknown. Thus, we investigated the anti-Alzheimer’s disease (anti-AD) potential of 16 ellagitannin and gallotannin, and nine anthocyanin derivatives’ inhibition of BACE1, AChE, and BChE, and gallagic acid inhibited both the best. Further, a kinetic study identified different modes of inhibition, and a molecular docking simulation revealed that active compounds inhibited these three enzymes with low binding energy through hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in the active site cavities. Gallagic acid and castalagin decreased Aβ peptides secretion from neuroblastoma cells that overexpressed human β-amyloid precursor protein significantly by 10 μM. Further, treatment with gallagic acid and castalagin reduced BACE1 and APPsβ expression levels significantly without affecting amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels in the amyloidogenic pathway. Co-incubation of Aβ42 with gallagic acid reduced Aβ42-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production significantly. Our results suggest that pomegranate constituents, specifically gallagic acid, may be useful in developing therapeutic treatment modalities for AD.

Changes in cortical gene expression in the muscarinic M1 receptor knockout mouse: potential relevance to schizophrenia, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and cognition

Postmortem and neuroimaging studies show low levels of cortical muscarinic M1 receptors (CHRM1) in patients with schizophrenia which is significant because CHRM signalling has been shown to change levels of gene expression and cortical gene expression is altered in schizophrenia. We decided to identify CHRM1-mediated changes in cortical gene expression by measuring levels of RNA in the cortex of the Chrm1−/− mouse (n = 10), where there would be no signalling by that receptor, and in wild type mouse (n = 10) using the Affymetrix Mouse Exon 1.0 ST Array. We detected RNA for 15,501 annotated genes and noncoding RNA of which 1,467 RNAs were higher and 229 RNAs lower in the cortex of the Chrm1−/− mouse. Pathways and proteins affected by the changes in cortical gene expression in the Chrm1−/− are linked to the molecular pathology of schizophrenia. Our human cortical gene expression data showed 47 genes had altered expression in Chrm1−/− mouse and the frontal pole from patients with schizophrenia with the change in expression of 44 genes being in opposite directions. In addition, genes with altered levels of expression in the Chrm1−/− mouse have been shown to affect amyloid precursor protein processing which is associated with the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease, and 69 genes with altered expression in the Chrm1−/− mouse are risk genes associated with human cognitive ability. Our findings argue CHRM1-mediated changes in gene expression are relevant to the pathophysiologies of schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease and the maintenance of cognitive ability in humans.

Flavanone glycosides inhibit β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 and cholinesterase and reduce Aβ aggregation in the amyloidogenic pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a slow but progressive neurodegenerative disease. One of the pathological hallmarks of AD is the progressive accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the form of senile plaques, and Aβ insult to neuronal cells has been identified as one of the major causes of AD onset. In the present study, we investigated the anti-AD potential of four flavonoids, naringenin, didymin, prunin, and poncirin, by evaluating their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). All four flavonoids displayed promising inhibitory activity against AChE, BChE, and BACE1. Structure–activity relationships suggested that glycosylation of naringenin at sugar moieties, and at different positions of the glycosidic linkage, might be closely associated with anti-AD potential. Kinetic and docking studies showed the lowest binding energy and highest affinity for the mixed, competitive, and non-competitive type inhibitors didymin, prunin, and poncirin. Hydrophobic interactions and the number of hydrogen bonds determined the strength of the protein–inhibitor interaction. We also examined the neuroprotective mechanisms by which flavonoids act against Aβ25–35-induced toxicity in PC12 cells. Exposure of PC12 cells to 10 μM Aβ25–35 for 24 h resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability. In addition, pretreatment of PC12 cells with different concentrations of flavonoids for 1 h significantly reversed the effects of Aβ. Furthermore, treatment with the most active flavonoid, didymin, significantly reduced BACE1, APPsβ, and C99 expression levels in a dose-dependent manner, without affecting amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels in the amyloidogenic pathway. Together, our results indicate that flavonoids, and in particular didymin, exhibit inhibitory activity in vitro, and may be useful in the development of therapeutic modalities for the treatment of AD.

Mobile phone electromagnetic radiation affects Amyloid Precursor Protein and α-synuclein metabolism in SH-SY5Y cells

In this study, the effects of low-level, GSM emitted ElectroMagnetic Field (EMF) on Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in human neuroblastoma cells was investigated. Our data indicated alterations on APP processing and cellular topology, following EMF exposure (ℇ = 10.51 V/m, SAR = 0.23 W/kg, exposure time: 3 times, for 10 min, for 2 days). Furthermore, changes in monomeric α-syn accumulation and multimerization, as well as induction of oxidative stress and cell death, were documented. The results presented here require further investigation to determine potential links of EMF with the molecular pathogenic mechanisms in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases.

Presenilins as Drug Targets for Alzheimer's Disease-Recent Insights from Cell Biology and Electrophysiology as Novel Opportunities in Drug Development.

A major cause underlying familial Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are mutations in presenilin proteins, presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2). Presenilins are components of the γ-secretase complex which, when mutated, can affect amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing to toxic forms of amyloid beta (Aβ). Consequently, presenilins have been the target of numerous and varied research efforts to develop therapeutic strategies for AD. The presenilin 1 gene harbors the largest number of AD-causing mutations resulting in the late onset familial form of AD. As a result, the majority of efforts for drug development focused on PS1 and Aβ. Soon after the discovery of the major involvement of PS1 and PS2 in γ-secretase activity, it became clear that neuronal signaling, particularly calcium ion (Ca2+) signaling, is regulated by presenilins and impacted by mutations in presenilin genes. Intracellular Ca2+ signaling not only controls the activity of neurons, but also gene expression patterns, structural functionality of the cytoskeleton, synaptic connectivity and viability. Here, we will briefly review the role of presenilins in γ-secretase activity, then focus on the regulation of Ca2+ signaling, oxidative stress, and cellular viability by presenilins within the context of AD and discuss the relevance of presenilins in AD drug development efforts.

Neuroprotective effects of statins against amyloid β-induced neurotoxicity.

A growing body of evidence suggests that disruption of the homeostasis of lipid metabolism affects the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In particular, dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in the brain has been reported to considerably increase the risk of developing AD. Thus, dysregulation of lipid homeostasis may increase the amyloid β (Aβ) levels by affecting amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleavage, which is the most important risk factor involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Previous research demonstrated that Aβ can trigger neuronal insulin resistance, which plays an important role in response to Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in AD. Epidemiological studies also suggested that statin use is associated with a decreased incidence of AD. Therefore, statins are believed to be a good candidate for conferring neuroprotective effects against AD. Statins may play a beneficial role in reducing Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Their effect involves a putative mechanism beyond its cholesterol-lowering effects in preventing Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the protective effect of statins have not been clearly determined in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Given that statins may provide benefits beyond the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, these drugs may also improve the brain. Thus, statins may have beneficial effects on impaired insulin signaling by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in neuronal cells. They play a potential therapeutic role in targeting Aβ-mediated neurotoxicity.

Relevance of the COPI complex for Alzheimer’s disease progression in vivo

Cellular trafficking and recycling machineries belonging to late secretory compartments have been associated with increased Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We have shown that coat protein complex I (COPI)-dependent trafficking, an early step in Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum retrograde transport, affects amyloid precursor protein subcellular localization, cell-surface expression, as well as its metabolism. We present here a set of experiments demonstrating that, by targeting subunit δ-COP function, the moderation of the COPI-dependent trafficking in vivo leads to a significant decrease in amyloid plaques in the cortex and hippocampus of neurological 17 mice crossed with the 2xTg AD mouse model. Remarkably, an improvement of the memory impairments was also observed. Importantly, human genetic association studies of different AD cohorts led to the identification of 12 SNPs and 24 mutations located in COPI genes linked to an increased AD risk. These findings further demonstrate in vivo the importance of early trafficking steps in AD pathogenesis and open new clinical perspectives.

Houshiheisan compound prescription protects neurovascular units after cerebral ischemia.

Houshiheisan is composed of wind-dispelling (chrysanthemun flower, divaricate saposhnikovia root, Manchurian wild ginger, cassia twig, Szechwan lovage rhizome, and platycodon root) and deficiency-nourishing (ginseng, Chinese angelica, large-head atractylodes rhizome, Indian bread, and zingiber) drugs. In this study, we assumed these drugs have protective effects against cerebral ischemia, on neurovascular units. Houshiheisan was intragastrically administered in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot assays showed that Houshiheisan reduced pathological injury to the ischemic penumbra, protected neurovascular units, visibly up-regulated neuronal nuclear antigen expression, and down-regulated amyloid precursor protein and amyloid-β 42 expression. Wind-dispelling and deficiency-nourishing drugs maintained NeuN expression to varying degrees, but did not affect amyloid precursor protein or amyloid-β 42 expression in the ischemic penumbra. Our results suggest that the compound prescription Houshiheisan effectively suppresses abnormal amyloid precursor protein accumulation, reduces amyloid substance deposition, maintains stabilization of the internal environment of neurovascular units, and minimizes injury to neurovascular units in the ischemic penumbra.

Lysosomal NEU1 deficiency affects amyloid precursor protein levels and amyloid-β secretion via deregulated lysosomal exocytosis

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) belongs to a category of adult neurodegenerative conditions which are associated with intracellular and extracellular accumulation of neurotoxic protein aggregates. Understanding how these aggregates are formed, secreted and propagated by neurons has been the subject of intensive research, but so far no preventive or curative therapy for AD is available and clinical trials have been largely unsuccessful. Here we show that deficiency of the lysosomal sialidase NEU1 leads to the spontaneous occurrence of an AD-like amyloidogenic process in mice. This involves two consecutive events linked to NEU1 loss-of-function – accumulation and amyloidogenic processing of an oversialylated amyloid precursor protein in lysosomes, and extracellular release of Aβ-peptides by excessive lysosomal exocytosis. Furthermore, cerebral injection of NEU1 in an established AD mouse model substantially reduces β-amyloid plaques. Our findings identify an additional pathway for the secretion of Aβ and define NEU1 as a potential therapeutic molecule for AD.

Human apolipoprotein E4 modulates the expression of Pin1, Sirtuin 1, and Presenilin 1 in brain regions of targeted replacement apoE mice

The apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) allele is consistently associated with increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We investigated the molecular mechanism of this susceptibility by analyzing the levels of genes involved in AD pathogenesis in transgenic mice expressing human apoE3 or apoE4 isoforms. mRNA and protein levels of Pin1, Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), Presenilin 1 (PS1), and pro-Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) were analyzed in brain regions affected by neuropathological changes in AD.Pin1 mRNA was significantly higher in the hippocampus of apoE4 mice than in apoE3 controls, whereas lower expression was detected in the entorhinal and parietal cortices. Reduced Pin1 levels may increase neurofibrillary degeneration and amyloidogenic processes, while compensatory mechanisms may take place in the hippocampus to balance spatial memory deficits. Sirt1 levels were significantly reduced in the frontal cortex of apoE4 mice. Sirt1 reduction may hinder its protective role against the formation of plaques and tangles and diminish its anti-inflammatory actions. Sirt1 decrease may also play a role in apoE4-associated memory impairments. Moreover, in apoE4 mice PS1 mRNA levels were lower in the frontal cortex. Lower PS1 expression may hamper γ-secretase function, thus affecting amyloid precursor protein processing. Pro-BDNF mRNA levels did not differ between apoE3 and apoE4 mice in any region analyzed.This study showed dysregulated expression of Pin1, Sirt1, and PS1 genes in different cerebral areas of apoE4 mice, suggesting that these changes may play a role in the mechanism of AD vulnerability.

Retracted: S14G‐humanin inhibits Aβ1–42 fibril formation, disaggregates preformed fibrils, and protects against Aβ‐induced cytotoxicity in vitro

The aggregation of soluble amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide into oligomers/fibrils is one of the key pathological features in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Aβ aggregates are considered to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Therefore, inhibiting Aβ aggregation and destabilizing preformed Aβ fibrils would be an attractive therapeutic target for prevention and treatment of AD. S14G-humanin (HNG), a synthetic derivative of Humanin (HN), has been shown to be a strong neuroprotective agent against various AD-related insults. Recent studies have shown that HNG can significantly improve cognitive deficits and reduce insoluble Aβ levels as well as amyloid plaque burden without affecting amyloid precursor protein processing and Aβ production in transgenic AD models. However, the potential mechanisms by which HNG reduces Aβ-related pathology in vivo remain obscure. In the present study, we found that HNG could significantly inhibit monomeric Aβ1-42 aggregation into fibrils and destabilize preformed Aβ1-42 fibrils in a concentration-dependent manner by Thioflavin T fluorescence assay. In transmission electron microscope study, we observed that HNG was effective in inhibiting Aβ1-42 fibril formation and disrupting preformed Aβ1-42 fibrils, exhibiting various types of amorphous aggregates without identifiable Aβ fibrils. Furthermore, HNG-treated monomeric or fibrillar Aβ1-42 was found to significantly reduce Aβ1-42-mediated cytotoxic effects on PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that HNG not only inhibits Aβ1-42 fibril formation but also disaggregates preformed Aβ1-42 fibrils, which provides the novel evidence that HNG may have anti-Aβ aggregation and fibrillogenesis, and fibril-destabilizing properties. Together with previous studies, we concluded that HNG may have promising therapeutic potential as a multitarget agent for the prevention and/or treatment of AD.

Evidence for Premature Lipid Raft Aging in APP/PS1 Double-Transgenic Mice, a Model of Familial Alzheimer Disease

Altered lipid raft homeostasis has been considered to contribute to cellular deregulation, leading to neuronal loss in Alzheimer disease. Alterations in these microdomains affect amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, resulting in neurotoxic conditions, but modifications of the molecular structure of lipid rafts in Alzheimer disease model mice have not been characterized. Using a lipidomic approach, we investigated frontal cortex lipid rafts inwild-type mice and in double-transgenic APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice. Lipid rafts in wild-type mice undergo age-dependent modifications, that is, decreased cholesterol and sterol esters levels, augmented sphingomyelin and saturated fatty acid content, and increased phospholipids/cholesterol ratio. These age-dependent changes were more dramatic and occurred earlier in APP/PS1 mice; other lipid classes (e.g. sulfatides) and essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (including docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids) were also affected. Steady state anisotropy measurements demonstrated that APP/PS1 animals exhibit more viscous (membrane-ordered) lipid rafts and that this is mainly attributable to reduced unsaturation of phospholipids and increased sphingomyelin levels rather than to changes in cholesterol. In summary, we demonstrate that aging is accompanied by alteration of the physicochemical structure of lipid raft microdomains. This "lipid raft aging," a metaphenomenon, is considerably exacerbated by the induced amyloid burden in APP/PS1 genotype.

DC2 and Keratinocyte-associated Protein 2 (KCP2), Subunits of the Oligosaccharyltransferase Complex, Are Regulators of the γ-Secretase-directed Processing of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)

The oligosaccharyltransferase complex catalyzes the transfer of oligosaccharide from a dolichol pyrophosphate donor en bloc onto a free asparagine residue of a newly synthesized nascent chain during the translocation in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The role of the less known oligosaccharyltransferase (OST) subunits, DC2 and KCP2, recently identified still remains to be determined. Here, we have studied DC2 and KCP2, and we have established that DC2 and KCP2 are substrate-specific, affecting amyloid precursor protein (APP), indicating that they are not core components required for N-glycosylation and OST activity per se. We show for the first time that DC2 and KCP2 depletion affects APP processing, leading to an accumulation of C-terminal fragments, both C99 and C83, and a reduction in full-length mature APP. This reduction in mature APP levels was not due to a block in secretion because the levels of sAPPα secreted into the media were unaffected. We discover that DC2 and KCP2 depletion affects only the γ-secretase complex, resulting in a reduction of the PS1 active fragment blocking Aβ production. Conversely, we show that the overexpression of DC2 and KCP2 causes an increase in the active γ-secretase complex, particularly the N-terminal fragment of PS1 that is generated by endoproteolysis, leading to a stimulation of Aβ production upon overexpression of DC2 and KCP2. Our findings reveal that components of the OST complex for the first time can interact with the γ-secretase and affect the APP processing pathway.

Membrane-type Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Regulates Neuronal Responsiveness to Myelin through Nogo-66 Receptor 1 Cleavage

Nogo-66 receptor 1 (NgR1) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor for myelin-associated inhibitors that restricts plasticity and axonal regrowth in the CNS. NgR1 is cleaved from the cell surface of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in a metalloproteinase-dependent manner; however, the mechanism and physiological consequence of NgR1 shedding have not been explored. We now demonstrate that NgR1 is shed from multiple populations of primary neurons. Through a loss-of-function approach, we found that membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MT3-MMP) regulates endogenous NgR1 shedding in primary neurons. Neuronal knockdown of MT3-MMP resulted in the accumulation of NgR1 at the cell surface and reduced the accumulation of the NgR1 cleavage fragment in medium conditioned by cortical neurons. Recombinant MT1-, MT2-, MT3-, and MT5-MMPs promoted NgR1 shedding from the surface of primary neurons, and this treatment rendered neurons resistant to myelin-associated inhibitors. Introduction of a cleavage-resistant form of NgR1 reconstitutes the neuronal response to these inhibitors, demonstrating that specific metalloproteinases attenuate neuronal responses to myelin in an NgR1-dependent manner.

Cysteine 27 Variant of the δ-Opioid Receptor Affects Amyloid Precursor Protein Processing through Altered Endocytic Trafficking

Agonist-induced activation of the δ-opioid receptor (δOR) was recently shown to augment β- and γ-secretase activities, which increased the production of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), known to accumulate in the brain tissues of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Previously, the δOR variant with a phenylalanine at position 27 (δOR-Phe27) exhibited more efficient receptor maturation and higher stability at the cell surface than did the less common cysteine (δOR-Cys27) variant. For this study, we expressed these variants in human SH-SY5Y and HEK293 cells expressing exogenous or endogenous amyloid precursor protein (APP) and assessed the effects on APP processing. Expression of δOR-Cys27, but not δOR-Phe27, resulted in a robust accumulation of the APP C83 C-terminal fragment and the APP intracellular domain, while the total soluble APP and, particularly, the β-amyloid 40 levels were decreased. These changes upon δOR-Cys27 expression coincided with decreased localization of APP C-terminal fragments in late endosomes and lysosomes. Importantly, a long-term treatment with a subset of δOR-specific ligands or a c-Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor suppressed the δOR-Cys27-induced APP phenotype. These data suggest that an increased constitutive internalization and/or concurrent signaling of the δOR-Cys27 variant affects APP processing through altered endocytic trafficking of APP.

Apolipoprotein A-I Deficiency Increases Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy and Cognitive Deficits in APP/PS1ΔE9 Mice

A hallmark of Alzheimer disease (AD) is the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels, accompanied by cognitive decline. Previously, we showed that human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) decreases Aβ(40) aggregation and toxicity. Here we demonstrate that apoA-I in lipidated or non-lipidated form prevents the formation of high molecular weight aggregates of Aβ(42) and decreases Aβ(42) toxicity in primary brain cells. To determine the effects of apoA-I on AD phenotype in vivo, we crossed APP/PS1ΔE9 to apoA-I(KO) mice. Using a Morris water maze, we demonstrate that the deletion of mouse Apoa-I exacerbates memory deficits in APP/PS1ΔE9 mice. Further characterization of APP/PS1ΔE9/apoA-I(KO) mice showed that apoA-I deficiency did not affect amyloid precursor protein processing, soluble Aβ oligomer levels, Aβ plaque load, or levels of insoluble Aβ in brain parenchyma. To examine the effect of Apoa-I deletion on cerebral amyloid angiopathy, we measured insoluble Aβ isolated from cerebral blood vessels. Our data show that in APP/PS1ΔE9/apoA-I(KO) mice, insoluble Aβ(40) is increased more than 10-fold, and Aβ(42) is increased 1.5-fold. The increased levels of deposited amyloid in the vessels of cortices and hippocampi of APP/PS1ΔE9/apoA-I(KO) mice, measured by X-34 staining, confirmed the results. Finally, we demonstrate that lipidated and non-lipidated apoA-I significantly decreased Aβ toxicity against brain vascular smooth muscle cells. We conclude that lack of apoA-I aggravates the memory deficits in APP/PS1ΔE9 mice in parallel to significantly increased cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Effects of galantamine on β-amyloid release and beta-site cleaving enzyme 1 expression in differentiated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells

Galantamine (Gal) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and used to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies show that Gal may affect amyloid precursor protein (APP) metabolism and increase release of secretory APPα (sAPPα). However the effect of Gal on amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) release and β-site cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression is still unknown. Consequently, we investigated the effect of Gal on the level of Aβ and BACE1. In a differentiated human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y), Gal (0.3 μM) was found to significantly decrease Aβ release and BACE1 expression following treatment for 6, 12, and 24 h. Increasing Gal to 0.9 μM or 10 μM had no further effect. The effect of Gal (0.3 μM for 18 h) was maximal on BACE1 expression but not on Aβ secretion. At higher concentration (0.9 μM and 10 μM), Gal had no effect on the level of full-length APP but could still stimulate further decrease in Aβ secretion and release of sAPPα. These observations suggested that 0.3 μM Gal exerts its effect on Aβ production by inhibiting BACE1 expression, while 0.9 μM or 10 μM Gal mainly reduces Aβ production by stimulating the non-amyloidogenic pathway to decrease the amount of APP substrate available for β-secretase cleavage. In addition, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and multiple second messengers (including PKC, MEK, and p38MAPK) were found to be involved in the regulation of Gal-inhibited Aβ release and BACE1 expression.

Bengt Winblad: coaching the team in Alzheimer's disease

Bengt Winblad: coaching the team in Alzheimer's disease

Reduction of cholesterol synthesis in the mouse brain does not affect amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease, but does extend lifespan

Alterations in cellular cholesterol synthesis or content in cultured neurons affect the cleavage of amyloid precursor protein to amyloidogenic Abeta(40) and Abeta(42) peptides characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. To determine whether a decrease in cholesterol synthesis affects amyloid precursor protein processing in vivo, we crossed cholesterol 24-hydroxylase knockout mice, which exhibit a 50% reduction in brain sterol synthesis, with transgenic mice [B6.Cg-Tg(APPswe, PSEN1E9)85Dbo/J] that develop Alzheimer's disease-like pathology. Amyloid precursor protein expression and amyloid plaque deposition in the cortex and hippocampus of male and female Alzheimer's disease mice between the ages of 3 to 15 months were similar in the presence and absence of cholesterol 24-hydroxylase. A modest but statistically significant decline in insoluble Abeta(42) peptide levels was detected in the hippocampus of 12-month-old knockout/Alzheimer's disease males. The levels of insoluble Abeta(40) and Abeta(42) peptides in 15-month-old knockout/Alzheimer's disease females were also reduced slightly. Although amyloid plaque accumulation did not affect brain sterol or fatty acid synthesis rates in 24-hydroxylase WT or knockout mice, loss of one or both cholesterol 24-hydroxylase alleles increased longevity in Alzheimer's disease mice. These studies suggest that reducing de novo cholesterol synthesis in the brain will not substantially alter the course of Alzheimer's disease, but may confer a survival advantage.

Increase in Presenilin 1 (PS1) levels in senescence-accelerated mice(SAMP8) may indirectly impair memory by affecting amyloid precursor protein(APP) processing

Senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) serve as a model for Alzheimer's disease (AD) as they exhibit early loss of memory and increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression. APP is a ubiquitous membrane protein that is physiologically processed by site-specific proteolysis firstly by alpha- or beta-secretases, releasing a large fragment called APP(S) that contains most of the extracellular sequences of APP, a small extracellular stub, the transmembrane region and the cytoplasmic tail of APP (;AICD'-APP intracellular domain). These are subsequently cleaved by gamma-secretase at multiple sites in the transmembrane region, releasing small peptides, Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42), the major components of AD-associated amyloid fibrils. gamma-secretase is a high-molecular-mass complex composed of presenilin-1 (PS1), nicastrin, APH-1 and Pen-2. As PS1 has been shown to play a critical role in facilitating gamma-secretase activity, and mutations in this protein are associated with familial AD (FAD), we have cloned it from SAMP8 mouse hippocampus and compared its sequence with those of other species. Furthermore, changes in the expression of PS1 with age in the hippocampal tissue of SAMP8 were studied. The results showed that the SAMP8 PS1 cDNA sequence is identical to that of normal mice. However, its expression in the hippocampus of SAMP8 exhibited an increase, while CD-1 mice, a strain that does not exhibit premature memory loss, showed no change with age. An increased amount or mutation(s) in PS1, which alters the stoichiometric balance of the gamma-secretase complex, may be the cause of aberrant or increased processing of APP, resulting in Abeta accumulation leading to loss of memory.