Amyloid beta precursor protein-mRNA is expressed throughout cerebral vessel walls.
To determine the presence and distribution of cerebrovascular Abeta production we investigated amyloid beta precursor protein (AbetaPP)-mRNA expression by RNA in situ hybridization in patients with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis, Dutch type, Alzheimer disease and controls. In all subjects, AbetaPP-mRNA was expressed in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, adventitial cells and brain pericytes and/or perivascular cells. Meningeal cells also expressed AbetaPP-mRNA. AbetaPP was detected in endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and adventitial cells. The demonstration of AbetaPP-mRNA at all vascular sites where amyloid formation can occur supports an important contribution of locally derived Abeta to cerebrovascular amyloidosis.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism; D016657:Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis