Enhanced neurofibrillary degeneration in transgenic mice expressing mutant tau and APP

Science. 2001 Aug 24;293(5534):1487-91. doi: 10.1126/science.1058189.

Abstract

JNPL3 transgenic mice expressing a mutant tau protein, which develop neurofibrillary tangles and progressive motor disturbance, were crossed with Tg2576 transgenic mice expressing mutant beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP), thus modulating the APP-Abeta (beta-amyloid peptide) environment. The resulting double mutant (tau/APP) progeny and the Tg2576 parental strain developed Abeta deposits at the same age; however, relative to JNPL3 mice, the double mutants exhibited neurofibrillary tangle pathology that was substantially enhanced in the limbic system and olfactory cortex. These results indicate that either APP or Abeta influences the formation of neurofibrillary tangles. The interaction between Abeta and tau pathologies in these mice supports the hypothesis that a similar interaction occurs in Alzheimer's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Limbic System / metabolism
  • Limbic System / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Degeneration
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / genetics
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / metabolism
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / pathology*
  • Neurons / ultrastructure
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / genetics
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Sex Characteristics
  • Solubility
  • Spinal Cord / metabolism
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RNA, Messenger
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • tau Proteins