VEGF significantly restores impaired memory behavior in Alzheimers mice by improvement of vascular survival

• The functional impact of amyloid peptides (Abs) on the vascular system is less understood despite these pathologic peptides are substantially deposited in the brain vasculature of Alzheimers patients. Here we show substantial accumulation of Abs 40 and 42 in the brain arterioles of Alzheimers patients and of transgenic Alzheimers mice. PurifiedAbs 1-40 and 1-42 exhibited vascular regression activity in the in vivo animal models and vessel density was reversely correlated with numbers and sizes of amyloid plaques in human patients. A significant high number of vascular cells underwent cellular apoptosis in the brain vasculature of Alzheimers patients. VEGF significantly prevented Ab-induced endothelial apoptosis in vitro. Neuronal expression of VEGF in transgenic mice restored memory behavior of Alzheimers. These findings provide conceptual implication of improvement of vascular functions as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of Alzheimers disease.

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