阿尔茨海默病中β淀粉样蛋白的生成及清除的调节

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease, AD）是一种慢性退行性神经系统疾病,临床主要表现为进行性认知能力下降、记忆力衰退、人格改变等。AD的标志性病理特征包括脑细胞外β淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid protein,Aβ）沉积形成老年斑、细胞内神经纤维缠结(neurofibrillary tangles,NFT)、神经炎症增加以及神经元凋亡。β淀粉样蛋白主要在神经元产生,是淀粉样前体蛋白经过一系列酶解反应生成的由39～42个氨基酸组成的多肽,调节Aβ的生成和清除能够有效延缓甚至逆转阿尔茨海默病的进程,因而具有重大的研究价值。β-分泌酶（β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1,BACE1）为Aβ产生过程中的关键酶,其含量及活性的改变均能影响Aβ产生,在阿尔茨海默病的发生发展中发挥至关重要的作用;老年斑周围炎性细胞的聚集提示,AD与神经炎症高度相关,神经炎症相关细胞能够参与Aβ的清除,多种炎性因子也能调节Aβ的生成;非编码RNA虽很少直接参与Aβ的产生、沉积和清除,但其可以通过多种途径调节Aβ的产生。本文从β淀粉样蛋白生成及清除的机制着手,重点阐述了BACE1、神经炎症、非编码RNA对Aβ调控的重要作用,以期为AD发病机制的进一步研究提供思路,并对阿尔茨海默病早期干预及治疗提供理论参考。     

SB239063对APPswe/PS1dE9小鼠Aβ生成的调控作用及机制研究

目的:探讨p38MAPK抑制剂SB239063对AD模型小鼠认知功能障碍及其脑内β-淀粉样蛋白(beta-amyloid protein,Aβ)表达情况的影响。方法:采用6月龄APPswe/PS1d E9(APP/PS1)双转基因雄性AD模型小鼠及同龄野生型(WT)C57BL/6J小鼠为研究对象,将小鼠随机分为SB239063-WT治疗组、WT对照组、SB239063-APP/PS1治疗组和APP/PS1对照组,治疗组小鼠接受腹腔注射SB239063药物溶液(用3%DMSO生理盐水溶液溶解,给药剂量为15 mg/kg),对照组小鼠接受腹腔注射相应体积的3%DMSO生理盐水溶液,1次/日连续给药6周。采用Morris水迷宫、蛋白质印迹法(Western Blot)和酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)分别评估各组小鼠学习记忆功能、Aβ含量及其相关酶β-位点APP裂解酶1(BACE1)、早老素1(PS1)的表达水平。结果:水迷宫结果显示,与APP/PS1对照组相比,SB239063慢性治疗可以明显缩短APP/PS1小鼠找到隐藏平台所需的潜伏期(P0.01),增加APP/PS1小鼠在目标象限停留时间百分比(P0.01)和穿越原平台区域的次数(P0.01);ELISA结果显示,给予SB239063治疗能够显著减少AD小鼠脑内可溶性Aβ1-42(P0.05)、Aβ1-40(P0.05)和Aβ寡聚体(P0.01)的含量;Western blot结果显示,给予SB239063治疗后APP/PS1小鼠脑内皮层和海马组织中的p-p38MAPK(P0.01)、BACE1(P0.01)、PS1(P0.01)的表达水平明显下降。结论:SB239063可能通过下调p38MAPK的磷酸化水平抑制BACE1和PS1的表达,从而减少Aβ的生成并且改善AD小鼠的学习记忆功能损害,提示SB239063对Aβ所造成的病理损害具有潜在的治疗作用。     

藏药七十味珍珠丸改善APP/PS1小鼠学习记忆能力

藏药七十味珍珠丸（ratanasampil,RNSP）可改善大脑氧化应激水平,改善大脑功能,有安神和促进学习记忆的功效,然而RNSP是否可改善阿尔茨海默症（AD）小鼠的学习记忆功能,尚缺乏系统研究。本研究采用APP/PS 1转基因小鼠为研究对象,并随机将其分为实验组和对照组。对实验组进行为期12周的RNSP灌胃给药,对照组进行12周的蒸馏水灌胃,采用Morris水迷宫与开场实验评价小鼠学习记忆能力,比较小鼠体重与相关器官质量,并比较器官质量指数,通过分子生物学检测指标评价小鼠脑内老年斑数量,Aβ生成量及BACE1表达水平。本研究证实,与对照组相比,给药组小鼠定位航行潜伏期明显缩短（22.60±13.26 vs. 46.44±8.41, P<0.01, day 5）,穿越平台次数明显增加（1.29±0.37 vs. 0.54±0.29, P<0.01）,探洞次数明显增加（32.11±9.85 vs. 20.89±8.78, P<0.05）,表明RNSP提高了APP/PS 1小鼠的学习记忆能力和空间探索能力。与对照组相比,给药组小鼠大脑重量及脑质量指数均增高（0.4135±0.0102 vs. 0.3833±0.0254, P<0.05;2.04±0.08 vs. 1.84±0.15, P<0.05）,脑内老年斑数量减少（18.70±7.88 vs. 38.83±6.15, P<0.05）,Aβ1- 42水平及BACE1表达均显著降低（0.19±0.08 vs. 0.41±0.12, P<0.05; 0.136±0.04 vs. 0.206±0.02, P<0.05）,表明RNSP延缓了APP/PS 1小鼠的脑萎缩进程,降低脑内老年斑的形成,下调脑内Aβ1-42水平和BACE1裂解酶的蛋白质表达量。本研究提示,RNSP可改善APP/PS 1小鼠的学习记忆能力,其机制可能和RNSP抑制脑萎缩,降低BACE1蛋白表达以及减少脑内Aβ沉积有关。     

β-分泌酶抑制剂对tau过磷酸化大鼠β-CTF代谢的影响及机制研究

目的:在tau过磷酸化大鼠中,通过检测淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)C末端片段的表达,研究抑制β-分泌酶(BACE1)对其代谢的影响及机制。方法:24只SD大鼠随机分为四组,包括正常对照组、假手术组、OA组、OA+BACE1抑制剂组。Western blot法检测β-CTF、APP及BACE1表达;RT-PCR法检测APP及BACE1;水迷宫检测大鼠行为学。结果:OA组β-CTF表达显著增加(p0.05),而OA+BACE1抑制剂组与OA组相比,β-CTF表达减少(p0.05);四组大鼠的APP在蛋白及mRNA水平表达无显著差别(p0.05);OA组BACE1在蛋白及mRNA水平的表达增加,而OA+BACE1抑制剂组BACE1的蛋白表达较OA组减少(p0.05),两组大鼠mRNA表达水平无明显差异(p0.05)。OA+BACE1抑制剂组大鼠在给予BACE1抑制剂后行为学有所改善(p0.05)。结论:(1)tau过磷酸化通过促进神经元内BACE1表达,导致APP代谢途径发生转变,从而引起β-CTF表达增加;(2)β-CTF表达增加可引起tau过磷酸化大鼠行为学改变;(3)抑制BACE1可改善大鼠的学习及记忆能力,支持BACE1作为AD的治疗靶点。     

缺氧对稳定表达人淀粉样前体蛋白HEK293细胞的存活及阿尔茨海默病相关蛋白表达的影响

目的：探讨缺氧对稳定表达人淀粉样前体蛋白的HEK293细胞（HEK293-APP695）存活及相关蛋白表达的影响,为深入研究缺氧对阿尔茨海默病的调节作用提供稳定的细胞模型。方法：利用缺氧手套箱（0.3% O₂）处理HEK293-APP695细胞,CCK-8法检测细胞的存活情况;Western blot检测缺氧条件下阿尔茨海默病（AD）相关蛋白APP、APP-CTFs和BACE1的表达变化。结果：缺氧处理后,HEK293-APP695细胞的存活率明显下降,APP表达降低,其剪切体APP-CTFs表达升高。结论：缺氧导致APP剪切的增多,抑制细胞的存活,提示缺氧可能通过影响BACE1的活性在AD的发病进程中起重要的调节作用。     

阿尔茨海默病中蛋白质相互作用对β-分泌酶的调节机制

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease, AD)是一种慢性神经退行性疾病，目前尚无有效的治疗方案。AD发病机制十分复杂，学说众多，目前较为公认的仍然是淀粉样蛋白级联假说。该学说认为，淀粉样斑块在脑组织的沉积是AD发病的关键病理机制。β-分泌酶(β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1, BACE1)是淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein, APP)淀粉样降解途径中的限速酶，其降解产物β-淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid protein, Aβ)是淀粉样斑块(amyloid plaques)的主要成分。AD患者大脑BACE1浓度和活性增加，是引起AD的重要因素。因此，探究BACE1生成及活性调节的影响因素不仅对于理解AD的发病机制至关重要，而且对于开发AD的新治疗靶点也有重要意义。蛋白质之间的相互作用在蛋白质参与的各种生物学过程中发挥着重要的作用，因而被广泛研究。BACE1的相互作用蛋白质可以通过直接结合、间接结合和参与各种细胞信号转导通路等方式直接或间接地在BACE1的转录、翻译、修饰与胞内运输等各个环节对BACE1进行调节，从...     

谷氧还蛋白rbGrx可延缓CL4176秀丽隐杆线虫中β淀粉样蛋白诱导的毒性

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）是一种与衰老相关的神经退行性疾病,其中β-淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid,Aβ）诱导的细胞毒性被认为是其发病的主要原因。本文以Aβ转基因秀丽隐杆线虫CL4176为模型,研究了重组荞麦谷氧还蛋白（recombinant buckwheat glutaredoxin, rbGrx）对Aβ诱导的毒性和氧化应激的影响。结果显示,4 μmol/L rbGrx可以延长CL4176线虫平均寿命达20%左右,并增加衰老虫体运动能力约43.6%,延迟产卵高峰期1 d,同时可以有效延缓Aβ毒性诱导的瘫痪表型。进一步研究发现,在正常条件和Aβ诱导毒性时,rbGrx均能降低CL4176线虫体内活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）水平,并上调SOD活性和GSH含量。另外,rbGrx下调Aβ mRNA水平44.1％,减少Aβ沉积量,并且明显上调热激因子1 hsf-1（2.01倍）和hsp-16.2（2.65倍）mRNA表达水平。这表明,rbGrx通过降低CL4176线虫体内的ROS水平和上调热激蛋白质的转录表达水平,降低CL4176秀丽隐杆线虫中Aβ诱导的毒性。结果提示,rbGrx可能具有预防AD的潜力。     

综述:β分泌酶1调控机制在阿尔茨海默病早期发病中的作用

β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)在脑内的沉积被认为是阿尔茨海默病(AD)发病的始动因素之一．β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白裂解酶1(BACE1)是Aβ产生过程中重要的蛋白酶．BACE1在细胞内的表达与成熟受多种因素调节．BACE1与缺血缺氧、炎症应激等多种AD早期的分子病理变化相关,BACE1、Aβ及其相关细胞因子可能成为体液生物学标记物,为临床早期诊断AD提供新的手段．     

β片层阻断肽H102对双转基因AD小鼠海马脑区APP代谢酶的影响

目的:探讨β片层阻断肽H102对APP/PS1双转基因小鼠(AD小鼠)海马脑区β淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白(APP)代谢分泌酶以及学习记忆能力的影响。方法:将6月龄大小的30只AD模型小鼠随机分为AD组和H102组,相同月龄、数量和背景的C57BL/6J小鼠作为对照组(n=15)。H102组每日经鼻腔给予H102溶液(5.8 mg/kg)5μl,对照组及AD组每日给予辅料溶液5μl。给药30 d后,使用Morris水迷宫的方法检测各组小鼠的空间记忆能力变化,采用免疫组织化学方法及Western blot技术测定海马脑区α分泌酶(ADAM10和ADAM17)、β分泌酶(BACE1)及γ分泌酶(PS1,APH1a,PEN2)在小鼠海马中的表达。结果:与对照组比较,AD组小鼠海马脑区BACE1、PS1、PEN-2、APH1-a蛋白表达显著升高,ADAM10、ADAM17蛋白表达显著降低(P0.05);与模型组相比,H102能够明显提高AD小鼠的空间学习记忆能力,明显降低海马脑区BACE1、PS1、PEN-2、APH1-a蛋白的表达,明显提高ADAM10、ADAM17蛋白的表达(P0.05)。结论:β片层阻断肽H102能够减少海马脑区Aβ的生成,提高海马脑区α分泌酶的活性,降低β和γ分泌酶的活性,改善AD小鼠的学习记忆能力。     

β-分泌酶与二价阳离子耐受蛋白CUTA存在相互作用

淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid,Aβ)沉积是阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimerdisease,AD)的重要病理特征之一.Aβ是由淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)经β-分泌酶(BACE)和γ-分泌酶水解产生的,因此BACE1在AD的形成过程中发挥重要作用.为了进一步研究BACE1的作用机制,以BACE1胞内段构建诱饵蛋白用酵母双杂交方法筛选与之相互作用的蛋白质.结果得到了二价阳离子耐受蛋白(divalent cation tolerant protein,CUTA)的阳性克隆,β-半乳糖苷酶实验表明CUTA和BACE1胞内片段存在相互作用.构建了两者全长基因的表达载体,证明二者在哺乳动物细胞中同样可以相互作用.CUTA可能涉及铜的代谢动力学及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)的膜锚定,而铜的代谢失衡和AchE水平与AD发病密切相关.实验结果为BACE生物学功能和AD发病机制的研究提供了条件.     

Aβ42转基因AD果蝇的构建及在药物筛选中的运用

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）是一种以β-淀粉样蛋白的形成和沉积为主要特征的神经退行性疾病,Aβ42被认为在AD的发病过程中起着重要的作用。果蝇是一种遗传操作简便的模式动物,利用果蝇中经典的Gal4／UAS系统,作者构建了在中枢神经系统中全神经元或运动神经元表达单拷贝或双拷贝AB42的转基因AD果蝇,并检验转基因果蝇在AD治疗药物筛选中的作用。结果显示,转基因AD果蝇寿命明显缩短且运动能力降低,而使用AD临床治疗药物安理申后,可延长AD果蝇寿命,改善AID果蝇的运动障碍。进一步的研究显示,δ阿片受体拮抗剂naltrindole给药后,也能缓解这些症状。该研究为AD治疗药物的初筛提供了一个经济便捷的工具。     

The Swedish APP mutation alters the effect of genetically reduced BACE1 expression on the APP processing

Inhibition of β-secretase (BACE1) is a key therapeutic approach in Alzheimer's disease (AD), as BACE1 initiates amyloid-β (Aβ) cleavage from the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). As Aβ reductions in mice lacking one BACE1 allele diverged considerably between studies we investigated the effect of BACE1 knock-out in more detail. With both BACE1 alleles the Swedish mutation (APP23 mice) increased APP processing and shifted it towards the β-secretase pathway as compared with non-mutated APP expressed at a similar level (APP51/16 mice). This effect was much smaller then observed in cell culture. An about 50% decrease in BACE1 enzyme activity resulted in a sub-proportional Aβ reduction with the Swedish mutation (-20%) and even less for non-mutated APP (-16%). In wild-type mice, the Aβ reduction may be even further diminished. Other metabolites of the β-secretase pathway decreased accordingly while the alternative α-secretase pathway increased. Complete BACE1 deletion strongly enhanced these changes. The remaining Aβ signal also described by others can be explained by assay cross-reactivity with other APP metabolites supporting BACE1 as the major β-secretase. Our data indicate that BACE1 is in excess over APP at the cleavage site(s). Alterations in APP expression or substrate properties, therefore, quantitatively change its cleavage and Aβ generation.     

Regulation of amyloid-β production by the prion protein

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), culminating in the accumulation of amyloid-β peptides in the brain. The enzymatic action of the β-secretase, BACE1 is the rate-limiting step in this amyloidogenic processing of APP. BACE1 cleavage of wild-type APP (APP_WT) is inhibited by the cellular prion protein (PrP^C). Our recent study has revealed the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind this observation by showing that PrP^C directly interacts with the pro-domain of BACE1 in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), decreasing the amount of BACE1 at the cell surface and in endosomes where it cleaves APP_WT, while increasing BACE1 in the TGN where it preferentially cleaves APP with the Swedish mutation (APP_Swe). PrP^C deletion in transgenic mice expressing the Swedish and Indiana familial mutations (APP_Swe,Ind) failed to affect amyloid-β accumulation, which is explained by the differential subcellular sites of action of BACE1 toward APP_WT and APP_Swe. This, together with our observation that PrP^C is reduced in sporadic but not familial AD brain, suggests that PrP^C plays a key protective role against sporadic AD. It also highlights the need for an APP_WT transgenic mouse model to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sporadic AD.     

Measurement of cellular β-site of APP cleaving enzyme 1 activity and its modulation in neuronal assay systems

Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a putatively causative agent of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), is proteolytically derived from β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). Here we describe cellular assays to detect the activity of the key protease β-site of APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) based on an artificial reporter construct containing the BACE1 cleavage site of APP. These methods allow identification of inhibitors and indirect modulators of BACE1. In primary neuronal cultures transfected with human APP constructs (huAPP), Aβ production was modified by BACE1 inhibitors similarly to the production of endogenous murine Aβ in wild-type cells and to that of different transgenic neurons. To further improve the assay, we substituted the extracellular domain of APP by secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP). SEAP was easily quantified in the cell culture supernatants after cleavage of SEAP-APP by BACE1 or α-secretases. To render the assay specific for BACE1, the α-secretase cleavage site of SEAP-APP was eliminated either by site-directed mutagenesis or by substituting the transmembrane part of APP by the membrane domain of the erythropoietin receptor (EpoR). The pharmacology of these constructs was characterized in detail in HEK293 cells (human embryonic kidney cell line), and the SEAP-APP-EpoR construct was also introduced into primary murine neurons and there allowed specific measurement of BACE1 activity.     

Expression of human beta-secretase in the mouse brain increases the steady-state level of beta-amyloid

beta-Site APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE) initiates the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) leading to the generation of beta-amyloid, the main component of Alzheimer's disease senile plaques. BACE (Asp2, memapsin 2) is a type I transmembrane aspartyl protease and is responsible for the beta-secretase cleavage of APP producing different endoproteolytic fragments referred to as the carboxy-terminal C99, C89 and the soluble ectodomain sAPPbeta. Here we describe two transgenic mouse lines expressing human BACE in the brain. Overexpression of BACE augments the amyloidogenic processing of APP as demonstrated by decreased levels of full-length APP and increased levels of C99 and C89 in vivo. In mice expressing huBACE in addition to human APP wild-type or carrying the Swedish mutation, the induction of APP processing characterized by elevated C99, C89 and sAPPbeta, results in increased brain levels of beta-amyloid peptides Abeta40 and Abeta42 at steady-state.     

果蝇长寿基因methuselah的研究进展

果蝇Drosophila 3号染色体上methuselah （mth）基因发生突变后, 成年果蝇的平均寿命会延长约35%, 并且对一系列外界胁迫因素如饥饿、 高温、 百草枯（可产生强氧化性自由基）的耐受性会显著增强。研究表明mth编码的Mth蛋白属于B家族G蛋白偶联受体（G protein-coupled receptor, GPCR）, 其内源性配体是sun基因编码的小分子肽Stunted。现已发现敲除sun基因或者过表达Mth受体的肽类拮抗剂均能延长果蝇的寿命。Mth受体是目前发现的首个与动物衰老调控相关的GPCR, 该受体除了具有GPCR典型的7次跨膜结构外, 还具有其独特的胞外结构域, 该胞外结构域能够与多种配体结合。Mth受体的生理功能主要体现为： 维持生物体内环境稳态和新陈代谢的平衡, 参与调控果蝇的寿命、 应激反应、 雄性种系干细胞数量和感知运动能力等。目前对Mth受体的研究尚处于起步阶段, 其工作机理的解析对于我们揭示GPCR如何参与寿命的调节具有重要意义, 为我们开发延长人类寿命的新药提供了可能。鉴于此, 本文主要对果蝇Mth受体的结构功能、 配体及其寿命调控信号转导通路等方面做了总结, 并对Mth受体寿命调控信号通路的实用研究价值做了一些展望。     

Characterization of a Drosophila Alzheimer's disease model: pharmacological rescue of cognitive defects

Transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) have made significant contributions to our understanding of AD pathogenesis, and are useful tools in the development of potential therapeutics. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, provides a genetically tractable, powerful system to study the biochemical, genetic, environmental, and behavioral aspects of complex human diseases, including AD. In an effort to model AD, we over-expressed human APP and BACE genes in the Drosophila central nervous system. Biochemical, neuroanatomical, and behavioral analyses indicate that these flies exhibit aspects of clinical AD neuropathology and symptomology. These include the generation of Aβ(40) and Aβ(42), the presence of amyloid aggregates, dramatic neuroanatomical changes, defects in motor reflex behavior, and defects in memory. In addition, these flies exhibit external morphological abnormalities. Treatment with a γ-secretase inhibitor suppressed these phenotypes. Further, all of these phenotypes are present within the first few days of adult fly life. Taken together these data demonstrate that this transgenic AD model can serve as a powerful tool for the identification of AD therapeutic interventions.     

我国三地区黑腹果蝇中Wolbachia的系统发育关系及其对宿主生殖的影响

【目的】Wolbachia 是广泛存在于节肢动物和丝状线虫体内的一类共生菌, 能够以多种方式对宿主产生影响。精卵细胞质不亲和（CI）是其引起的最普遍的表型, 即感染Wolbachia的雄性宿主与未感染或感染不同品系的雌性宿主交配后, 不能产生后代或后代极少, 而感染同品系Wolbachia的雌雄宿主交配后则能正常产生后代。我们前期研究发现, 湖北武汉、 云南六库和天津3个地区黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster被Wolbachia感染。本研究旨在明确这3个地区黑腹果蝇中Wolbachia的系统发育关系及其对宿主生殖的影响。【方法】利用Clustal X软件对Wolbachia的wsp基因序列进行比对, 利用MEGA软件构建系统发育树。采用多位点序列分型（MLST）的方法对Wolbachia进行分型。通过区内交配和区之间杂交的方式研究不同地区黑腹果蝇体内Wolbachia 的关系及其对果蝇生殖的影响。【结果】湖北武汉、 云南六库和天津3个地区黑腹果蝇中感染的Wolbachia都是属于A大组的Mel亚群。这3个地区果蝇感染的Wolbachia的序列类型（ST）不同, Wolbachia之间存在一定的差异。湖北武汉和天津果蝇中的Wolbachia能引起强烈的CI表型, 而云南六库果蝇中的Wolbachia引起的CI强度相对较弱。武汉果蝇中Wolbachia不能完全挽救天津果蝇中Wolbachia引起的CI表型, 而天津果蝇中Wolbachia也不能完全挽救武汉果蝇中Wolbachia引起的CI表型。【结论】武汉和天津地区黑腹果蝇中的Wolbachia可能距离较远。Wolbachia的长期共生可能对黑腹果蝇的进化产生了一定的影响, 湖北武汉与云南六库的黑腹果蝇中感染的Wolbachia属于不同的序列类型, 这2个地区的黑腹果蝇已发生了一定的分歧, 产生了一定的生殖隔离。     

Regulation of amyloid-β production by the prion protein

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized by the amyloidogenic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), culminating in the accumulation of amyloid-β peptides in the brain. The enzymatic action of the β-secretase, BACE1 is the rate-limiting step in this amyloidogenic processing of APP. BACE1 cleavage of wild-type APP (APP_WT) is inhibited by the cellular prion protein (PrP^C). Our recent study has revealed the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind this observation by showing that PrP^C directly interacts with the pro-domain of BACE1 in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), decreasing the amount of BACE1 at the cell surface and in endosomes where it cleaves APP_WT, while increasing BACE1 in the TGN where it preferentially cleaves APP with the Swedish mutation (APP_Swe). PrP^C deletion in transgenic mice expressing the Swedish and Indiana familial mutations (APP_Swe,Ind) failed to affect amyloid-β accumulation, which is explained by the differential subcellular sites of action of BACE1 toward APP_WT and APP_Swe. This, together with our observation that PrP^C is reduced in sporadic but not familial AD brain, suggests that PrP^C plays a key protective role against sporadic AD. It also highlights the need for an APP_WT transgenic mouse model to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying sporadic AD.     

Synaptic abnormalities in a Drosophila model of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and decreased synaptic function. Advances in transgenic animal models of AD have facilitated our understanding of this disorder, and have aided in the development, speed and efficiency of testing potential therapeutics. Recently, we have described the characterization of a novel model of AD in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, where we expressed the human AD-associated proteins APP and BACE in the central nervous system of the fly. Here we describe synaptic defects in the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in this model. Our results indicate that expression of human APP and BACE at the larval NMJ leads to defective larval locomotion behavior, decreased presynaptic connections, altered mitochondrial localization in presynaptic motor neurons and decreased postsynaptic protein levels. Treating larvae expressing APP and BACE with the γ-secretase inhibitor L-685,458 suppresses the behavioral defects as well as the pre- and postsynaptic defects. We suggest that this model will be useful to assess and model the synaptic dysfunction normally associated with AD, and will also serve as a powerful in vivo tool for rapid testing of potential therapeutics for AD.KEY WORDS: APP, Alzheimer’s disease, Drosophila, BACE, Synapse, NMJ