The effects of different familial Alzheimer's disease mutations on APP processing in vivo

• Background: Disturbed amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing is considered to be central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The autosomal dominant form of the disease, familial AD (FAD), may serve as a model for the sporadic form of AD. In FAD the diagnosis of AD is reliable and presymptomatic individuals carrying FAD mutations can give valuable insights into the earliest stages of the disease where therapeutic interventions are thought to be the most effective. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, products of APP processing (e.g., sAPP alpha, sAPP beta, A beta(38), A beta(40) and A beta(42)) were measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of individuals carrying one of three FAD mutations, APPswe (p. KM670/671NL), APParc (p.E693G) and PSEN1 (p.H163Y), as well as in non-mutation carriers from the same families. Results: We observed pathological APP processing in presymptomatic carriers of FAD mutations, with different profiles of APP and A beta isoforms in the three mutation carrier groups, APPswe (p. KM670/671NL), APParc (p.E693G) and PSEN1 (p.H163Y), except for the well-established decrease in CSF A beta(42) that was found with all mutations. Conclusions: These findings add to the current evidence that AD pathophysiology differs between disease-causing mutations and can be monitored in the presymptomatic disease stage by CSF analyses. This may also be important from a therapeutic standpoint, by opening a window to monitor effects of disease-modifying drugs on AD pathophysiology.

Subject headings

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

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

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

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

Keyword

Alzheimer's disease

Amyloid precursor protein

Biomarkers

Cerebrospinal fluid

Genetics

amyloid-precursor protein

cerebrospinal-fluid levels

alpha-secretase

biomarkers

gene

diagnosis

consensus

pattern

plasma

onset

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)