Beta-amyloid plaques in a model for sporadic Alzheimer's disease based on transgenic anti-nerve growth factor antibodies

Mol Cell Neurosci. 2002 Sep;21(1):15-28. doi: 10.1006/mcne.2002.1163.

Abstract

Cerebral deposition of beta-amyloid (Abeta) is an invariant event of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently described that the brain of aged transgenic mice expressing anti-nerve growth factor (NGF) antibodies (AD11 mice) show a dramatic neurodegenerative phenotype, reminiscent of AD, which includes neuronal loss, cholinergic deficit, and tau hyperphosphorylation, associated with neurofibrillary pathology. We now report that brains of aged transgenic mice contain large amounts of beta-amyloid plaques and describe their morphology by a variety of approaches. In conclusion, the chronic deprivation of NGF leads to the formation and deposition of Abeta in AD11 mice, suggesting a direct link between NGF signaling and abnormal processing of amyloid precursor protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / immunology
  • Aging / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / immunology
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / genetics*
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / metabolism
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Brain / immunology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Cerebellum / immunology
  • Cerebellum / metabolism
  • Cerebellum / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Locus Coeruleus / immunology
  • Locus Coeruleus / metabolism
  • Locus Coeruleus / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neostriatum / immunology
  • Neostriatum / metabolism
  • Neostriatum / pathology
  • Nerve Growth Factor / deficiency*
  • Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Neurofibrillary Tangles / metabolism
  • Neurons / immunology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Plaque, Amyloid / genetics*
  • Plaque, Amyloid / immunology
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Silver Staining
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Autoantibodies
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Thiazoles
  • thioflavin T
  • Nerve Growth Factor

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