Abeta42 is essential for parenchymal and vascular amyloid deposition in mice

Neuron. 2005 Jul 21;47(2):191-199. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.06.030.

Abstract

Considerable circumstantial evidence suggests that Abeta42 is the initiating molecule in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. However, the absolute requirement for Abeta42 for amyloid deposition has never been demonstrated in vivo. We have addressed this by developing transgenic models that express Abeta1-40 or Abeta1-42 in the absence of human amyloid beta protein precursor (APP) overexpression. Mice expressing high levels of Abeta1-40 do not develop overt amyloid pathology. In contrast, mice expressing lower levels of Abeta1-42 accumulate insoluble Abeta1-42 and develop compact amyloid plaques, congophilic amyloid angiopathy (CAA), and diffuse Abeta deposits. When mice expressing Abeta1-42 are crossed with mutant APP (Tg2576) mice, there is also a massive increase in amyloid deposition. These data establish that Abeta1-42 is essential for amyloid deposition in the parenchyma and also in vessels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Blood Vessels / metabolism*
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Blood Vessels / ultrastructure
  • Blotting, Northern / methods
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / ultrastructure
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • In Situ Hybridization / methods
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Mutation
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Pia Mater / metabolism*
  • Pia Mater / pathology
  • Pia Mater / ultrastructure
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology
  • Thiazoles / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Thiazoles
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • thioflavin T