title: Dyrk1A overexpression in immortalized hippocampal cells produces the neuropathological features of Down syndrome.
abstract: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder, characterized by mental retardation, congenital heart abnormalities, and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain development of DS patients is associated with elevated apoptosis and abnormal neuronal differentiation. Those key features are closely associated with many genes mapped within Down syndrome critical region (DSCR) on human chromosome 21. Proline-directed serine/threonine kinase, Dyrk1A, is mapped within DSCR, and involved in the control of cell growth and postembryonic neurogenesis. Despite the potential involvement of Dyrk1A in neurodegeneration, its links to AD susceptibility and the neuropathology of DS patients are not yet clearly understood. Here, we report evidence supporting the correlation between Dyrk1A and neuropathology of DS. Our results show that Dyrk1A interacts with and directly phosphorylates tau and amyloid precursor protein in immortalized hippocampal progenitor H19-7 cells. In addition, the formation of tau inclusion and the enhanced generation of beta-amyloid fragment were detected in H19-7 cells that overexpressed Dyrk1A. Furthermore, these cells show a marked increase in apoptotic cell death under conditions of serum deprivation and also exhibit defects in neuronal differentiation. These results suggest that up-regulation of Dyrk1A may cause AD-like pathogenesis and abnormal neurobiological features in DS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science, Yonsei University, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-749, South Korea.
authors.forename: Joongkyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Jin
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Joo Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Kwang Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097603:Dyrk Kinases
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D016875:tau Proteins; D000097603:Dyrk Kinases