title: Brain beta-amyloid accumulation in transgenic mice expressing mutant superoxide dismutase 1.
abstract: Oxidative stress is implicated in both the deposition and pathogenesis of beta-amyloid (Abeta) protein in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accordingly, overexpression of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in neuronal cells and transgenic AD mice reduces Abeta toxicity and accumulation. In contrast, mutations in SOD1 associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) confer enhanced pro-oxidative enzyme activities. We therefore examined whether ALS-linked mutant SOD1 overexpression in motor neuronal cells or transgenic ALS mice modulates Abeta toxicity or its accumulation in the brain. Aggregated, but not freshly solubilised, substrate-bound Abeta peptides induced degenerative morphology and cytotoxicity in motor neuron-like NSC-34 cells. Transfection of NSC-34 cells with human wild-type SOD1 attenuated Abeta-induced toxicity, however this neuroprotective effect was also observed for ALS-linked mutant SOD1. Analysis of the cerebral cortex, brainstem, cerebellum and olfactory bulb from transgenic SOD1G93A mice using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of acid-guanidine extracts revealed age-dependent elevations in Abeta levels, although not significantly different from wild-type mouse brain. In addition, brain amyloid protein precursor (APP) levels remained unaltered as a consequence of mutant SOD1 expression. We therefore conclude that mutant SOD1 overexpression promotes neither Abeta toxicity nor brain accumulation in these ALS models.
authors.affiliation: Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Qiao-Xin
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Katrina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Laughton
authors.forename: Colin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Masters
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Julie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: Surindar S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cheema
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; C000606290:SOD1 protein, human; C000606291:Sod1 protein, mouse; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000072105:Superoxide Dismutase-1