nELAV proteins alteration in Alzheimer's disease brain: a novel putative target for amyloid-beta reverberating on AbetaPP processing

J Alzheimers Dis. 2009;16(2):409-19. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2009-0967.

Abstract

Neuronal ELAV (nELAV) proteins are RNA-binding proteins which play a physiological role in controlling gene expression in memory formation, and their alteration may contribute to cognitive impairment associated with neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indeed, we found that the content of nELAV proteins is significantly decreased along with clinical dementia progression in the hippocampi of AD brains, where it inversely correlates with the amount of amyloid-beta (Abeta). To check the direct influence of Abeta on nELAV, we performed in vitro experiments using human SH-SY5Y cells, finding that Abeta(1-42) specifically determines nELAV proteins reduction. Since ADAM10 mRNA has the predicted sequences targeted by nELAV, we investigated whether Abeta, through nELAV proteins, could originate a vicious circle affecting amyloid-beta protein precursor (AbetaPP) processing. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that indeed nELAV proteins bind to ADAM10 mRNA and that this binding is disrupted by Abeta(1-42) exposure, resulting in a decreased ADAM10 protein expression. ADAM10 protein diminution was also found in AD hippocampi. These data show for the first time the involvement of nELAV in AD pathology and suggest that their alteration may affect genes implicated in AbetaPP processing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins / genetics
  • ADAM Proteins / metabolism
  • ADAM10 Protein
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / genetics
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / pharmacology
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Antigens, Surface / genetics
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism*
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Progression
  • ELAV Proteins
  • ELAV-Like Protein 1
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology
  • Postmortem Changes
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Antigens, Surface
  • ELAV Proteins
  • ELAV-Like Protein 1
  • ELAVL1 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tetrazolium Salts
  • Thiazoles
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • amyloid beta-protein (40-1)
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAM10 Protein
  • ADAM10 protein, human
  • thiazolyl blue