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PubMed · 8624101

beta-APP cognitive function versus beta-amyloid--induced cell death.

M Gschwind·J R Martin·J L Moreau·G Huber
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Abstract

The beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) has been hypothesized to play an important role in the establishment of synaptic connections. Icv injections of anti-beta APP antibodies into rat brains produced no appreciable effect on subsequent learning of a passive avoidance task whereas memory assessed 1 day later in a retention test was impaired in anti-beta-APP--but not control-IgG-injected animals. This suggests a possible involvement of beta-APPs in cognitive functions. In order to evaluate the properties of the proteolytic A beta-fragment accumulating in Alzheimer's disease brains, four different neuronal cell types were exposed to A beta 1-42 for 24 hours. All cells degenerated in response to A beta, yet chromosomal condensation and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, typical for apoptosis, occurred in only three of the cell types tested. These findings suggest that beta-APPs may play an important role in cognitive processes and additionally, that their alternative proteolytic product A beta may be differentially toxic to neuronal cell types, inducing cell death either by necrosis or by apoptosis.

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Amyloid beta-PeptidesAmyloid beta-Protein PrecursorAnimalsCell DeathCognitionCricetinaeNeuronsNeurotoxinsPeptide FragmentsRabbitsRatsTumor Cells, CulturedJournal Article

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M Gschwind, J R Martin, J L Moreau, G Huber. 1996-01-17. beta-APP cognitive function versus beta-amyloid--induced cell death.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb34435.x

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