Abeta is targeted to the vasculature in a mouse model of hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis.
The E693Q mutation in the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) leads to cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), with recurrent cerebral hemorrhagic strokes and dementia. In contrast to Alzheimer disease (AD), the brains of those affected by hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis-Dutch type (HCHWA-D) show few parenchymal amyloid plaques. We found that neuronal overexpression of human E693Q APP in mice (APPDutch mice) caused extensive CAA, smooth muscle cell degeneration, hemorrhages and neuroinflammation. In contrast, overexpression of human wild-type APP (APPwt mice) resulted in predominantly parenchymal amyloidosis, similar to that seen in AD. In APPDutch mice and HCHWA-D human brain, the ratio of the amyloid-beta40 peptide (Abeta40) to Abeta42 was significantly higher than that seen in APPwt mice or AD human brain. Genetically shifting the ratio of AbetaDutch40/AbetaDutch42 toward AbetaDutch42 by crossing APPDutch mice with transgenic mice producing mutated presenilin-1 redistributed the amyloid pathology from the vasculature to the parenchyma. The understanding that different Abeta species can drive amyloid pathology in different cerebral compartments has implications for current anti-amyloid therapeutic strategies. This HCHWA-D mouse model is the first to develop robust CAA in the absence of parenchymal amyloid, highlighting the key role of neuronally produced Abeta to vascular amyloid pathology and emphasizing the differing roles of Abeta40 and Abeta42 in vascular and parenchymal amyloid pathology.
Department of Cellular Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Martin C
MC
Herzig
David T
DT
Winkler
Patrick
P
Burgermeister
Michelle
M
Pfeifer
Esther
E
Kohler
Stephen D
SD
Schmidt
Simone
S
Danner
Dorothee
D
Abramowski
Christine
C
Stürchler-Pierrat
Kurt
K
Bürki
Sjoerd G
SG
van Duinen
Marion L C
ML
Maat-Schieman
Matthias
M
Staufenbiel
Paul M
PM
Mathews
Mathias
M
Jucker
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D005973:Glutamine / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010841:Pia Mater / Q000378:metabolism; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens / Q000235:genetics
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018800:Thy-1 Antigens; C078592:amyloid beta-protein (1-40); C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid