Disruption of endocytic transport by transthyretin aggregates

The cytotoxicity of amyloidogenic proteins such as transthyretin (TTR) has implications for neurodegeneration and other pathologies, but is not well understood. In the current study, potential effects of misfolded, aggregated TTRs (agTTR) upon a major cell membrane function—endocytosis—were assessed. Internalization of transferrin (Tf), a ligand whose receptor-mediated endocytosis is well characterized, was analyzed in different cell types after treatment with agTTR. The results indicate disruption of Tf endocytosis: 20–25% inhibition by agTTR relative to the same concentrations of normal soluble TTR, or relative to another control protein, albumin (p < 0.05 for agTTR relative to controls). No statistically significant difference was observed for cell surface Tf binding between agTTR-treated and control cells. This is the first evidence for endocytic disruption by agTTR, and presents a novel cytotoxicity mechanism that may account for previously reported inhibitory effects of amyloidogenic TTR on neuronal growth.