The Psen1-L166P-knock-in mutation leads to amyloid deposition in human wild-type amyloid precursor protein YAC transgenic mice

FASEB J. 2012 Jul;26(7):2899-910. doi: 10.1096/fj.12-205542. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Abstract

Genetically engineered mice have been generated to model cerebral β-amyloidosis, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology, based on the overexpression of a mutated cDNA of the amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) or by knock-in of the murine Aβpp gene alone or with presenilin1 mutations. Here we describe the generation and initial characterization of a new mouse line based on the presence of 2 copies of the human genomic region encoding the wild-type AβPP and the L166P presenilin 1 mutation. At ∼6 mo of age, double-mutant mice develop amyloid pathology, with signs of neuritic dystrophy, intracellular Aβ accumulation, and glial inflammation, an increase in AβPP C-terminal fragments, and an 8 times increase in Aβ42 levels with a 40% decrease in Aβ40 levels, leading to a significant increase (14 times) of Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios, with minimal effects on presenilin or the Notch1 pathway in the brain. We conclude that in mice, neither mutations in AβPP nor overexpression of an AβPP isoform are a prerequisite for Aβ pathology. This model will allow the study of AD pathogenesis and testing of therapeutic strategies in a more relevant environment without experimental artifacts due to the overexpression of a single-mutant AβPP isoform using exogenous promoters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Yeast / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics*
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Amyloidogenic Proteins
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Mutant Proteins
  • PSEN1 protein, human
  • Presenilin-1
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Recombinant Proteins