title: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 is in plaques in Alzheimer and Down pathologies.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a major modulator of the extracellular matrix and cell growth, and shows affinity for and interaction with several substances present in plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to examine a possible role of TGF-beta in plaque biogenesis, we studied its distribution in the limbic system of AD and Down's syndrome (DS) brains. Select plaques displayed TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivity in AD and DS. TGF-beta 1 plaques were mainly located in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus in AD, while in DS TGF-beta 1 plaques were preferentially located in the entorhinal cortex. In AD, TGF-beta 1 immunoreactivity was also shown in neurofibrillary tangles. The presence of TGF-beta 1 in plaques suggests that TGF-beta 1 may play a role in the cascade of events leading to plaque formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychobiology, University of California, Irvine 92717-4550.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: van der Wal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Pinilla
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Cotman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta