RESUMO
Dyshomeostasis of extracellular zinc and copper has been implicated in ß-amyloid aggregation, the major pathology associated with Alzheimer disease. Presenilin mediates the proteolytic cleavage of the ß-amyloid precursor protein to release ß-amyloid, and mutations in presenilin can cause familial Alzheimer disease. We tested whether presenilin expression affects copper and zinc transport. Studying murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from presenilin knock-out mice or RNA interference of presenilin expression in HEK293T cells, we observed a marked decrease in saturable uptake of radiolabeled copper and zinc. Measurement of basal metal levels in 6-month-old presenilin 1 heterozygous knock-out (PS1(+/-)) mice revealed significant deficiencies of copper and zinc in several tissues, including brain. Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) activity was significantly decreased in both presenilin knock-out MEFs and brain tissue of presenilin 1 heterozygous knock-out mice. In the MEFs and PS1(+/-) brains, copper chaperone of SOD1 (CCS) levels were decreased. Zinc-dependent alkaline phosphatase activity was not decreased in the PS null MEFs. These data indicate that presenilins are important for cellular copper and zinc turnover, influencing SOD1 activity, and having the potential to indirectly impact ß-amyloid aggregation through metal ion clearance.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/metabolismo , Cobre/metabolismo , Presenilina-1/metabolismo , Superóxido Dismutase/metabolismo , Zinco/metabolismo , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Amiloide/genética , Amiloide/metabolismo , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/genética , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Química Encefálica/genética , Embrião de Mamíferos/citologia , Embrião de Mamíferos/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/citologia , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Chaperonas Moleculares/genética , Chaperonas Moleculares/metabolismo , Presenilina-1/genética , Superóxido Dismutase/genética , Superóxido Dismutase-1RESUMO
Accumulation of the amyloid ß peptide in the cortical and hippocampal regions of the brain is a major pathological feature of Alzheimer disease. Amyloid ß peptide is generated from the sequential protease cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). We reported previously that copper increases the level of APP at the cell surface. Here we report that copper, but not iron or zinc, promotes APP trafficking in cultured polarized epithelial cells and neuronal cells. In SH-SY5Y neuronal cells and primary cortical neurons, copper promoted a redistribution of APP from a perinuclear localization to a wider distribution, including neurites. Importantly, a change in APP localization was not attributed to an up-regulation of APP protein synthesis. Using live cell imaging and endocytosis assays, we found that copper promotes an increase in cell surface APP by increasing its exocytosis and reducing its endocytosis, respectively. This study identifies a novel mechanism by which copper regulates the localization and presumably the function of APP, which is of major significance for understanding the role of APP in copper homeostasis and the role of copper in Alzheimer disease.
