Oligomerizaiton and fibril asssembly of the amyloid-beta protein.

In this chapter, we attempt to analyze the evolution of the amyloid-beta (Abeta) molecular structure from its inception as part of the Abeta precursor protein to its release by the secretases and its extrusion from membrane into an aqueous environment. Biophysical studies suggest that the Abeta peptide sustains a series of transitions from a molecule rich in alpha-helix to a molecule in which beta-strands prevail. It is proposed that initially the extended C-termini of two opposing Abeta dimers form an antiparallel beta-sheet and that the subsequent addition of dimers generates a helical Abeta protofilament. Two or more protofilaments create a strand in which the hydrophobic core of the beta-sheets is shielded from the aqueous environment by the N-terminal polar domains of the Abeta dimers. Once the nucleation has occurred, the Abeta filament grows in length by the addition of dimers or tetramers.

Traumatic brain injury elevates the Alzheimer's amyloid peptide A beta 42 in human CSF. A possible role for nerve cell injury.

The increased risk for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) suggests that environmental insults may influence the development of this age-related dementia. Recently, we have shown that the levels of the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta 1-42) increase in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients after severe brain injury and remain elevated for some time after the initial event. The relationships of elevated A beta with markers of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, inflammation, and nerve cell or axonal injury were evaluated in CSF samples taken daily from TBI patients. This analysis reveals that the rise in A beta 1-42 is best correlated with possible markers of neuronal or axonal injury, the cytoskeletal protein tau, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Similar or better correlations were observed between A beta 1-40 and the three aforementioned markers. These results imply that the degree of brain injury may play a decisive role in determining the levels of A beta 1-42 and A beta 1-40 in the CSF of TBI patients. Inflammation and alterations in BBB may play lesser, but nonetheless significant, roles in determining the A beta level in CSF after brain injury.

Apolipoprotein E alters metabolism of AbetaPP in cells engaged in beta-amyloidosis.

Canine smooth muscle cells (SMCs), cultured from amyloid-affected brain blood vessels accumulate Alzheimer amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) intracellularly, either spontaneously or after treatment with apolipoprotein E (apoE). ApoE is codeposited with Abeta, which suggests that apoE participates in Abeta accumulation. We tested the hypothesis that apoE-induced accumulation of Abeta in SMCs is caused by an increased production of amyloid-beta precursor protein (AbetaPP) and/or its altered metabolism. We found that 24 hours of treatment with apoE3 or apoE4 induced intracellular accumulation of Abeta-immunoreactive deposits in SMCs but did not influence AbetaPP production and processing. The treatment with apoE3 or E4 for 3 days resulted in the following: increased Abeta-accumulation; reduced levels of secreted Abeta; increased production and cellular retention of mature AbetaPP770; and reduced culture growth, cell proliferation, and viability. ApoE4, but not apoE3, increased cellular levels of mRNA AbetaPP 770 (the main form produced in SMCs) about ninefold. ApoE3 stimulated production and cellular retention of endogenous apoE. We hypothesize that Abeta accumulation is triggered by apoE, which may bind and immobilize soluble Abeta produced in SMCs. The newly formed Abeta deposits may further accelerate Abeta accumulation by altering metabolism of AbetaPP.

Inhibitors of V-type ATPases, bafilomycin A1 and concanamycin A, protect against beta-amyloid-mediated effects on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction.

The functional viability of cells can be evaluated using a number of different assay determinants. One common assay involves exposing cells to 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), which is converted intracellularly to a colored formazan precipitate and often used to assess amyloid peptide-induced cytotoxic effects. The MTT assay was employed to evaluate the role of endosomal uptake and lysosomal acidification in amyloid peptide-treated differentiated PC12 cell cultures using selective vacuolar-type (V-type) ATPase inhibitors. The macrolides bafilomycin A1 (BAF) and concanamycin A (CON) block lysosomal acidification through selective inhibition of the V-type ATPase. Treating nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells with nanomolar concentrations of BAF or CON provides complete protection against the effects of beta-amyloid peptides Abeta(1-42), Abeta(1-40), and Abeta(25-35) and of amylin on MTT dye conversion. These macrolides do not inhibit peptide aggregation, act as antioxidants, or inhibit Abeta uptake by cells. Measurements of lysosomal acidification reveal that the concentrations of BAF and CON effective in reversing Abeta-mediated MTT dye conversion also reverse lysosomal pH. These results suggest that lysosomal acidification is necessary for Abeta effects on MTT dye conversion.

Secretion and accumulation of Alzheimer's beta-protein by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from old and young dogs.

Cultured smooth muscle cells isolated from beta-amyloid-affected blood vessels from old dogs accumulate beta-protein at early passages [5,24]. Now, we show that smooth muscle cells derived from amyloid-free brain blood vessels and peripheral arteries from old and young animals are induced by culture conditions to deposit intracellularly fibrillar and non-fibrillar beta-protein. Accumulation of beta-protein is associated with a higher secretion of beta-protein, but not with a higher secretion of beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP) or higher cellular content of beta APP. Gradual cessation of proliferative activity was observed in cultures that accumulate beta-protein.

Cholinergic therapies for Alzheimer's disease. Palliative or disease altering?

Loss of cholinergic function in the neocortex and hippocampus arising from death or atrophy of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons is a consistent feature of the Alzheimer brain at autopsy or biopsy. Replacement of lost cholinergic function, therefore, may be of therapeutic benefit to the Alzheimer's (AD) patients. This can be accomplished by enhancing endogenous levels of acetylcholine (ACh) through inhibition of its degradation by acetylcholinesterase on by directly mimicking its actions at postsynaptic muscarinic receptors. Initial efforts focused on inhibition of cholinesterase activity with tacrine (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroaminoacridine monochloride, CAS 1684-40-8, THA, Cognex). Tacrine is a mixed, reversible inhibitor of cholinesterase activity that binds near but not to the catalytically active serine in the active site of the enzyme. Through this action tacrine indirectly elevates ACh levels in the brains of animals and improves cognitive performance in rodents and monkeys. More importantly, tacrine has been shown to significantly improve several measures of cognitive performance in probable AD patients in well-controlled clinical trials, although not all patients respond to this agent. CI-979 ((E)-1,2,5,6-tetrahydro-1-methyl-3-pyridine-carboxyaldehyde-O-meth yl oxime, CAS 139886-04-7) is a non-subtype selective, partial muscarinic agonist that enhances cognitive performance and increases central cholinergic activity in rodents at doses below those required to increase peripheral cholinergic tone. In normal healthy volunteers, CI-979 is well tolerated at single and multiple doses (q 6 h) up to 1.0 mg. In normal healthy volunteers, CI-979 is well tolerated at single and multiple doses (q 6 h) up to 1.0 mg. Expected signs of mild to moderate peripheral cholinergic stimulation were noted at 0.5 to 1.0 mg doses (q 6 h).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Interleukin-1 beta dissociates beta-amyloid precursor protein and beta-amyloid peptide secretion.

A heightened production of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been reported in microglial-associated amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. These plaques are composed predominantly of beta/A4 peptide derived from beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP). We demonstrate that short-term (1 h) IL-1 beta-treatment increases beta APPs secretion and concomitantly decreases cell-associated beta APP in human H4 neuroglioma cells. Long-term (5 h) IL-1 beta treatment did not alter secreted or cell-associated beta APP content. In contrast, the secretion of beta/A4-containing epitope was not affected by short-term IL-1 beta stimulation; however, long-term IL-1 beta treatment decreased the amount of beta/A4-containing epitope secreted from the cells. These results show that IL-1 beta modifies the processing and secretion of beta APP to exacerbate perhaps the neuropathology of AD.