Divergent Age-Dependent Conformational Rearrangement within Aβ Amyloid Deposits in APP23, APPPS1, and AppNL-F Mice

• Amyloid plaques composed of fibrils of misfolded A beta peptides are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A beta fibrils are polymorphic in their tertiary and quaternary molecular structures. This structural polymorphism may carry different pathologic potencies and can putatively contribute to clinical phenotypes of AD. Therefore, mapping of structural polymorphism of A beta fibrils and structural evolution over time is valuable to understanding disease mechanisms. Here, we investigated how A beta fibril structures in situ differ in A beta plaque of different mouse models expressing familial mutations in the A beta PP gene. We imaged frozen brains with a combination of conformation-sensitive luminescent conjugated oligothiophene (LCO) ligands and A beta-specific antibodies. LCO fluorescence mapping revealed that mouse models APP23, APPPS1, and App(NL-F) have different fibril structures within A beta-amyloid plaques depending on the A beta PP-processing genotype. Co-staining with A beta-specific antibodies showed that individual plaques from APP23 mice expressing A beta PP Swedish mutation have two distinct fibril polymorph regions of core and corona. The plaque core is predominantly composed of compact A beta 40 fibrils, and the corona region is dominated by diffusely packed A beta 40 fibrils. Conversely, the A beta PP knock-in mouse App(NL-F), expressing the A beta PP Iberian mutation along with Swedish mutation has tiny, cored plaques consisting mainly of compact A beta 42 fibrils, vastly different from APP23 even at elevated age up to 21 months. Age-dependent polymorph rearrangement of plaque cores observed for APP23 and APPPS1 mice >12 months, appears strongly promoted by A beta 40 and was hence minuscule in App(NL-F). These structural studies of amyloid plaques in situ can map disease-relevant fibril polymorph distributions to guide the design of diagnostic and therapeutic molecules.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Alzheimer's Disease; A beta amyloid polymorphism; mouse models; plaque morphology; fluorescenceimaging

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