Functional characterization of P2Y1 and P2X4 receptors in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells / Caracterización funcional de receptores P2Y1 y P2X4 en células SK-N-MC de neuroblastoma humano

Nucleotides are important signalling molecules in both the peripheral and central nervous system. However, the in vitro study of their receptors can be hampered by the heterogeneity of primary neuronal cultures. The use of clonal neuroblastoma cell lines allows to circumvent this difficulty, so these lines are often used as a model to analyze the properties, regulation and physiological role of nucleotide receptors in neural tissues. Expression studies indicated the presence of P2Y1, P2Y6, P2Y11, P2Y13, P2X1, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6 and P2X7 proteins in SK-N-MC cells. Functional analyses showed transient [Ca2+]i increases upon application of ADP, 2-MeSADP or ADPβS. Responses to these agonists seem to be mediated by a P2Y1 receptor, as demonstrated by the almost complete blockade exerted by the P2Y1-selective antagonist MRS2179. ATP was also able to induce [Ca2+]i increases in SK-N-MC cells. Responses to ATP were partially blocked by MRS2179 and the P2X antagonist TNP-ATP, thus suggesting that ATP can interact with two different P2 receptors: a P2Y1 receptor, inhibited by MRS2179, and a TNP-ATP sensitive P2X receptor. To characterize the P2X receptor responsible for the MRS2179-resistant component of the ATP response, we analyze the effect of several P2X agonists on [Ca2+]i. Cells did not show responses to either α,β-meATP or BzATP, although [Ca2+]i increases could be observed when cells were challenged with CTP. Both the response to CTP and the MRS2179-resistant component of ATP response were potentiated by ivermectin. Such pharmacological profile is consistent with the presence of a functional P2X4 receptor in SK-N-MC cell line

Los nucleótidos son importantes moléculas señalizadoras en el sistema nervioso. El estudio in vitro de sus receptores puede verse obstaculizado por la heterogeneidad de los cultivos neuronales. El uso de líneas celulares de neuroblastoma permite eludir esta dificultad y dichas líneas se utilizan frecuentemente como un modelo con el que analizar las propiedades, regulación y función de los receptores de nucleótidos en tejidos neurales. Estudios de expresión indicaron la presencia de proteínas P2Y1, P2Y6, P2Y11, P2Y13, P2X1, P2X4, P2X5, P2X6 y P2X7 en las células SK-N-MC. Análisis funcionales mostraron incrementos transitorios de [Ca2+]i tras la aplicación de ADP, 2- MeSADP o ADPβS, respuestas que parecen estar mediadas a través un receptor P2Y1, como se pone de manifiesto por el bloqueo casi total ejercido por el antagonista selectivo P2Y1, MRS2179. El ATP también indujo incrementos de [Ca2+]i en las células SK-N-MC, siendo su respuesta parcialmente bloqueada por MRS2179 y por el antagonista P2X TNP-ATP, lo que sugiere que el ATP puede interactuar con dos receptores P2 diferentes: un receptor P2Y1, inhibido por MRS2179, y un receptor P2X sensible a TNP-ATP. Se caracterizó el receptor P2X analizando el efecto de varios agonistas en la [Ca2+]i. Ninguna célula mostró respuestas a α,β- meATP o BzATP, aunque se observaron incrementos de [Ca2+]i cuando las células fueron estimuladas con CTP. Tanto la respuesta a CTP como el componente de la respuesta a ATP resistente a MRS2179, se potenciaron en presencia de ivermectina. Todos estos datos sugieren la presencia de un receptor P2X4 funcional en las células SK-N-MC

A free radical-generating system regulates AßPP metabolism/processing: involvement of the ubiquitin/proteasome and autophagy/lysosome pathways.

Oxidative stress is an early event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We previously reported that, in SK-N-MC cells, the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X-XOD) free radical generating system regulates the metabolism/processing of the amyloid-ß protein precursor (AßPP). Oxidative stress alters the two main cellular proteolytic machineries, the ubiquitin/proteasome (UPS) and the autophagy/lysosome systems, and recent studies have established connections between the malfunctioning of these and the pathogenesis of AD. The aim of the present work was to examine the involvement of these proteolytic systems in the regulation of AßPP metabolism by X-XOD. The proteasome inhibitor MG132 was found to accelerate the metabolism/processing of AßPP promoted by X-XOD because it significantly enhances the secretion of α-secretase-cleaved soluble AßPP and also the levels of both carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs) produced by α- and ß-secretase. Further, MG132 modulated the intracellular accumulation of holo-AßPP and/or AßPP CTFs. This indicates that the X-XOD modulation of AßPP metabolism/processing involves the UPS pathway. With respect to the autophagy/lysosome pathway, the AßPP processing and intracellular location patterns induced by X-XOD treatment closely resembled those produced by the lysosome inhibitor ammonium chloride. The present results suggest that the regulation of AßPP metabolism/processing by mild oxidative stress requires UPS activity with a simultaneous reduction in that of the autophagy/lysosome system.

Herpes simplex virus type I induces an incomplete autophagic response in human neuroblastoma cells.

Autophagy is a homeostatic process involved in the turnover or elimination of cytoplasmic components, damaged organelles, and protein aggregates via a lysosomal degradation mechanism. Autophagy also provides a mechanism of innate immunity, known as xenophagy, designed to protect cells from intracellular pathogens, but it may unfortunately be subverted to act as a pro-viral pathway facilitating the replication of certain viruses. Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that remains latent in host neurons; it is the most common cause of sporadic viral encephalitis. Moreover, HSV-1 has been related to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. HSV-1 can modulate the autophagic process through a mechanism mediated by the viral protein ICP34.5. Here we report that HSV-1 induces a strong increase in GFP-LC3 and endogenous LC3 lipidation, and triggers the accumulation of intracellular autophagic compartments (mainly autophagosomes) without enhancing autophagic long-lived protein degradation in the late stages of infection. Autophagy inhibition mediated by ATG5 gene silencing had no effect on viral growth. The present results suggest that HSV-1 infection activates the host autophagic machinery and strongly controls the autophagic process, blocking the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. These events might be important in the neurodegenerative process associated with HSV-1 infection.

How statins could be evaluated successfully in clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease?

Over the last decade, a large number of experimental observations have suggested a relationship between alterations in cholesterol homeostasis and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Moreover, epidemiological studies have pointed an association between statin treatment and a decrease in the risk of having AD. For these reasons, a large number of clinical trials have been carried out to determine whether the statins can prevent the progression of AD. However, these studies did not provide clear evidence for the therapeutic efficacy in AD. We consider that there are a number of explanations for this failure that may provide guidance for selecting and clinically developing statins with therapeutic efficacy in AD.

Aging-related neurostructural, neuropathological, and behavioral changes associated with herpes simplex virus type 1 brain infection in mice.

To date, the main advances in understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD) have revolved around the genetic variants associated with the familial form of the disease, yet the majority of cases are sporadic. The main risk factor for AD is aging, followed by production of the E4 isoform of apolipoprotein E (APOE). Female gender also increases the risk of developing AD. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been epidemiologically and experimentally associated with AD, although no studies on its effects over aging have been undertaken. To assess the potential aging-related consequences of HSV-1 brain infection, 2 month-old wild-type and apoE-deficient mice were infected with the virus, and over the next 16 months analyses made of cerebral viral load, neuropathological, morphological, and metabolic changes in the brain, and cognitive performance. Viral load in the central nervous system (CNS) increased with age. The viral load in the brains of aged apoE+/+ female mice was 43 times that seen in apoE-/- male mice. No MRI-detectable morphological differences nor any clear neuropathological differences were seen between 18 month-old infected and mock-infected mice, although differences were seen in younger animals. Neuroinfection was associated with memory deficit and a reduction in metabolic indicators of CNS health.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 induces nuclear accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neuronal cells.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that remains latent in host neurons. Viral DNA replication is a highly structured process in which the redistribution of nuclear proteins plays an important role. Although tau is most widely known as a microtubule-associated protein found in a hyperphosphorylated state in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), this protein has also been detected at other sites such as the nucleolus. Here, we establish that HSV-1 infection gives rise to an increase in tau phosphorylation and that hyperphosphorylated tau accumulates in the nucleus, forming defined structures in HSV-1-infected neuronal cells reminiscent of the common sites of viral DNA replication. When tau expression in human neuroblastoma cells was specifically inhibited using an adenoviral vector expressing a short hairpin RNA to tau, viral DNA replication was not affected, indicating that tau is not required for HSV-1 growth in neuronal cells. Given that HSV-1 is considered a risk factor for AD, our results suggest a new way in which to understand the relationships between HSV-1 infection and the pathogenic mechanisms leading to AD.

Herpes simplex virus type I induces the accumulation of intracellular ß-amyloid in autophagic compartments and the inhibition of the non-amyloidogenic pathway in human neuroblastoma cells.

Mounting evidence suggests that herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Epidemiological analyses have shown that HSV-1 is a risk factor for AD in people with at least 1 type 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene. Recent studies have also suggested that HSV-1 contributes to the appearance of the biochemical anomalies characteristic of AD brains. In addition, autophagic activity appears to be reduced with aging, and the final stages of autophagy in neurodegenerative process appear to be impaired. The present work reports that HSV-1 provokes the strong intracellular accumulation of both the main species of ß-amyloid (Aß) in the autophagic compartments and that it is associated with a marked inhibition of Aß secretion. Autophagosomes containing Aß failed to fuse with lysosomes in HSV-1-infected cells, indicating the impaired degradation of Aß localized in the autophagic vesicles. In addition, HSV-1 infection was associated with the inhibition of the nonamyloidogenic pathway of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing without significantly affecting the activity of the secretases involved in the amyloidogenic pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that HSV-1 infection modulates autophagy and amyloid precursor protein processing, contributing to the accumulation of Aß characteristic of AD.

Genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A pathway is not associated with Alzheimer's disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Tau abnormal hyperphosphorylation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in AD brain is the result of upregulation of tau kinases and downregulation of tau phosphatases. METHODS: In a group of 729 Spanish late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and 670 healthy controls, we examined variations into a set of candidate genes (PPP2CA, PPP2R2A, ANP32A, LCMT1, PPME1 and PIN1) in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway, to address hypotheses of genetic variation that might influence AD risk. RESULTS: There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by age, gender or APOE ε4 allele. CONCLUSION: Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that genetic variation in the tau protein phosphatase-2A (PP2A) pathway is causally related to AD risk.

Genetic variation in the tau kinases pathway may modify the risk and age at onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Tau abnormal hyperphosphorylation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain is the result of upregulation of tau kinases. In a group of 729 Spanish late-onset AD patients and 670 healthy controls, we examined variations into a set of 20 candidate genes of kinases involved in tau phosphorylation at AD-related sites (PRKACB; CAMK2A; MARK1, 2, 3 and 4; CSNK1D; CDC2; RPS6KB1 and 2; p38α and ß; IB1; JNK1, 2 and 3; MEK1 and 2; ERK1 and 2), to address hypotheses of genetic variation that might influence both AD risk and age at disease onset. There was an increased frequency of RPS6KB2 (intron 2, rs917570) minor allele in patients (50%) versus controls (39%) (OR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.30-1.77; p = 1.24 × 10-5 Bonferroni corrected), and the presence of this minor allele was significantly (p = 4.2 × 10-5) associated with a 3-years later onset of AD (mean age 74.1 years) when compared to age at onset of non-minor allele carriers (mean age 71.1 years). In APOE non-ε4 allele carriers, the combined effect of AD-associated risk alleles from the genes of CDC2, RPS6KB1 and 2, p38α, JNK (1, 2 and 3), MEK2, and ERK2 was significantly (p = 0.002) associated with a late-onset (>76 years) of AD. The CDC2 AGC haplotype derived from SNPs in introns 3 (rs2448347), 5 (rs2456772), and 7 (rs1871447) showed a protective effect against AD in APOE non-ε4 allele carriers (permutation p = 1.0 × 10-4) with a frequency of 9% in cases and 15% in controls. Common genetic variation in the tau kinases pathway does underlie individual differences not only in susceptibility to AD but also in disease phenotype (age at disease onset).

Genetic cross-interaction between APOE and PRNP in sporadic Alzheimer's and Creutzfeldt-Jakob diseases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) represent two distinct clinical entities belonging to a wider group, generically named as conformational disorders that share common pathophysiologic mechanisms. It is well-established that the APOE ε4 allele and homozygosity at polymorphic codon 129 in the PRNP gene are the major genetic risk factors for AD and human prion diseases, respectively. However, the roles of PRNP in AD, and APOE in CJD are controversial. In this work, we investigated for the first time, APOE and PRNP genotypes simultaneously in 474 AD and 175 sporadic CJD (sCJD) patients compared to a common control population of 335 subjects. Differences in genotype distribution between patients and control subjects were studied by logistic regression analysis using age and gender as covariates. The effect size of risk association and synergy factors were calculated using the logistic odds ratio estimates. Our data confirmed that the presence of APOE ε4 allele is associated with a higher risk of developing AD, while homozygosity at PRNP gene constitutes a risk for sCJD. Opposite, we found no association for PRNP with AD, nor for APOE with sCJD. Interestingly, when AD and sCJD patients were stratified according to their respective main risk genes (APOE for AD, and PRNP for sCJD), we found statistically significant associations for the other gene in those strata at higher previous risk. Synergy factor analysis showed a synergistic age-dependent interaction between APOE and PRNP in both AD (SF = 3.59, p = 0.027), and sCJD (SF = 7.26, p = 0.005). We propose that this statistical epistasis can partially explain divergent data from different association studies. Moreover, these results suggest that the genetic interaction between APOE and PRNP may have a biological correlate that is indicative of shared neurodegenerative pathways involved in AD and sCJD.

Evidence of the association of BIN1 and PICALM with the AD risk in contrasting European populations.

Recent genome-wide association studies have identified 5 loci (BIN1, CLU, CR1, EXOC3L2, and PICALM) as genetic determinants of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We attempted to confirm the association between these genes and the AD risk in 3 contrasting European populations (from Finland, Italy, and Spain). Because CLU and CR1 had already been analyzed in these populations, we restricted our investigation to BIN1, EXO2CL3, and PICALM. In a total of 2816 AD cases and 2706 controls, we unambiguously replicated the association of rs744373 (for BIN1) and rs541458 (for PICALM) polymorphisms with the AD risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.15-1.38], p = 2.9 × 10(-7), and OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.74-0.88], p = 4.6 × 10(-7), respectively). In a meta-analysis, rs597668 (EXOC3L2) was also associated with the AD risk, albeit to a lesser extent (OR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.06-1.32], p = 2.0 × 10(-3)). However, this signal did not appear to be independent of APOE. In conclusion, we confirmed that BIN1 and PICALM are genetic determinants of AD, whereas the potential involvement of EXOC3L2 requires further investigation.

IGF-I gene variability is associated with an increased risk for AD.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a neuroprotective factor with a wide spectrum of actions in the adult brain, is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Circulating levels of IGF-I change in AD patients and are implicated in the clearance of brain amyloid beta (Aß) complexes. To investigate this hypothesis, we screened the IGF-I gene for various well known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) covering % of the gene variability in a population of 2352 individuals. Genetic analysis indicated different distribution of genotypes of 1 single nucleotide polymorphism, and 1 extended haplotype in the AD population compared with healthy control subjects. In particular, the frequency of rs972936 GG genotype was significantly greater in AD patients than in control subjects (63% vs. 55%). The rs972936 GG genotype was associated with an increased risk for disease, independently of apolipoprotein E genotype, and with enhanced circulating levels of IGF-I. These findings suggest that polymorphisms within the IGF-I gene could infer greater risk for AD through their effect on IGF-I levels, and confirm the physiological role IGF-I in the pathogenesis of AD.

Genetic variations in tau-tubulin kinase-1 are linked to Alzheimer's disease in a Spanish case-control cohort.

Neurofibrillary tangles, one of the characteristic neuropathological lesions found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains, are composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Tau-tubulin kinase-1 (TTBK1) is a brain-specific protein kinase involved in tau phosphorylation at AD-related sites. We examined genetic variations of TTBK1 by genotyping nine haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNPs) (rs2104142, rs2651206, rs10807287, rs7764257, rs3800294, rs1995300, rs2756173, rs6936397, and rs6458330) in a group of 645 Spanish late-onset AD patients and 738 healthy controls. Using a recessive genetic model, minor allele homozygotes for rs2651206 in intron 1 (OR=0.50, p=0.0003), rs10807287 in intron 5 (OR=0.49, p=0.0002), and rs7764257 in intron 9 (OR=0.57, p=0.023), which are in strong linkage disequilibrium, had a lower risk of developing AD than subjects homozygotes and heterozygotes for the major allele. TTBK1 is a promising new candidate tau phosphorylation-related gene for AD risk.

A free radical-generating system regulates APP metabolism/processing.

Oxidative stress, a risk factor in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, is intimately associated with aging. We previously reported that the X-XOD free radical generating system acts as a modulator of lipid metabolism and a mild inducer of apoptotic death. Using the same cell model, the present study examines the metabolism/processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Prior to inducing cell death, X-XOD promoted the secretion of α-secretase-cleaved soluble APP (sAPPα) and increased the level of APP carboxy-terminal fragments produced by α and γ secretase (αCTF and γCTF/AICD). In contrast, it reduced the activity of ß-secretase and the level of secreted Aß. The present results indicate that mild oxidative stress maintained throughout culturing regulates APP metabolism/processing in SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells.

PLA2G3, a gene involved in oxidative stress induced death, is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Oxidative stress, which plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), is intimately linked to aging, the best established risk factor for AD. Studies in neuronal cells subjected to oxidative stress, mimicking such stress in AD brains, are therefore of great interest. PLA2G3 is the most overexpressed gene in a human neuronal model of oxidative stress induced by the free radical-generating xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X-XOD) system, which provokes apoptotic cell death. In this work, we describe that PLA2G3 gene silencing produced a marked inhibition of X-XOD induced cell death, and that PLA2G3 polymorphisms are associated with AD in a Spanish case-control sample. The capacity to respond to oxidative stress may therefore modulate the risk of AD, and PLA2G3 is a potential target to regulate neuronal damage induced by free radicals.

The CALHM1 P86L polymorphism is a genetic modifier of age at onset in Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis study.

The only established genetic determinant of non-Mendelian forms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). Recently, it has been reported that the P86L polymorphism of the calcium homeostasis modulator 1 gene (CALHM1) is associated with the risk of developing AD. In order to independently assess this association, we performed a meta-analysis of 7,873 AD cases and 13,274 controls of Caucasian origin (from a total of 24 centers in Belgium, Finland, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA). Our results indicate that the CALHM1 P86L polymorphism is likely not a genetic determinant of AD but may modulate age of onset by interacting with the effect of the ε4 allele of the APOE gene.

Epistasis between intracellular cholesterol trafficking-related genes (NPC1 and ABCA1) and Alzheimer's disease risk.

Aberrant cholesterol metabolism has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent findings have suggested an interaction of Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) proteins in intracellular cholesterol transport and in maintaining cell cholesterol balance. Underexpression of NPC1 in concert with under-expression of ABCA1 would result in increased cholesterol accumulation and increased AD risk. We examined a functional polymorphism in the ABCA1 promoter region (-477, rs2422493), and four NPC1 polymorphisms in exon 6 (rs18050810), intron 20 (rs4800488), intron 22 (rs2236707), and intron 24 (rs2510344) capturing 85% of genetic variability in the Hap Map Caucasian (CEU) population, in a group of 631 Spanish AD patients and 731 controls. Subjects carrying both the ABCA1 (-477) TT genotype and the NPC1 (exon 6) GG genotype (OR=1.89; 95% CI 1.04-3.41), NPC1 (intron 20) AA genotype (OR=2.05; 95% CI 1.26-3.33), NPC1 (intron 22) AA genotype (OR=2.05; 95% or NPC1 (intron 24) GG genotype (OR=1.89; 95% higher risk of developing AD than subjects without these risk genotypes. Testing for epistatic interaction between genes in the pathway of cholesterol metabolism might be useful for predicting AD risk.

Caspase-1 genetic variation is not associated with Alzheimer's disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin (IL)-1beta is a potent proinflammatory cytokine markedly overexpressed in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and also involved in development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Caspase-1 (CASP1), formerly called IL-1beta converting enzyme (ICE), mediates the cleavage of the inactive precursor of IL-1beta into the biologically active form. CASP1 genetic variation (G+7/in6A, rs501192) has been associated with susceptibility to myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death risk. We examined the contribution of this gene to the susceptibility for AD. METHODS: We examined genetic variations of CASP1 by genotyping haplotype tagging SNPs (htSNPs) (rs501192, rs556205 and rs530537) in a group of 628 Spanish AD cases and 722 controls. RESULTS: There were no differences in the genotypic, allelic or haplotypic distributions between cases and controls in the overall analysis or after stratification by age, gender or APOE epsilon4 allele. CONCLUSION: Our negative findings in the Spanish population argue against the hypothesis that CASP1 genetic variations are causally related to AD risk.

A megalin polymorphism associated with promoter activity and Alzheimer's disease risk.

Elevated cerebral levels of amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet only a few patients show evidence of increased Abeta production. This observation suggests that many, perhaps most, cases of AD are caused by faulty clearance of Abeta. Megalin, which plays an important role in mediating Abeta clearance, is an attractive candidate gene for genetic association with AD. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyzed the megalin gene in a population of 2,183 subjects. Genetic analysis indicated that the rs3755166 (G/A) polymorphism located in the megalin promoter associated with risk for AD, dependently of apolipoprotein E genotype. The rs3755166 AA genotype frequency was significantly greater in AD patients than in control subjects. Furthermore, the luciferase reporter assay indicated that the rs3755166 A variant has 20% less transcriptional activity than the rs3755166 G variant. This study provides strong evidence that this megalin polymorphism confers a greater risk for AD, and supports a biological role for megalin in the neurodegenerative processes involved in AD.

Genetic screening of Alzheimer's disease genes in Iberian and African samples yields novel mutations in presenilins and APP.

Mutations in three genes (PSEN1, PSEN2, and APP) have been identified in patients with early-onset (<65 years) Alzheimer's disease (AD). We performed a screening for mutations in the coding regions of presenilins, as well as exons 16 and 17 of the APP gene in a total of 231 patients from the Iberian peninsular with a clinical diagnosis of early-onset AD (mean age at onset of 52.9 years; range 31-64). We found three novel mutations in PSEN1, one novel mutation in PSEN2, and a novel mutation in the APP gene. Four previously described mutations in PSEN1 were also found. The same analysis was carried in 121 elderly healthy controls from the Iberian peninsular, and a set of 130 individuals from seven African populations belonging to the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain-Human Genome Diversity Panel (CEPH-HGDP), in order to determine the extent of normal variability in these genes. Interestingly, in the latter series, we found five new non-synonymous changes in all three genes and a presenilin 2 variant (R62H) that has been previously related to AD. In some of these mutations, the pathologic consequence is uncertain and needs further investigation. To address this question we propose and use a systematic algorithm to classify the putative pathology of AD mutations.