Abundant expression of zinc transporters in the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer's disease brain.
The pathological key features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta)-containing senile plaques (SP) and neurofibrillary tangles. Previous studies have suggested that an extracellular elevation of the zinc concentration can initiate the deposition of Abeta and lead to the formation of SP. In the present study, we present data showing a correlation between zinc ions, zinc transporters (ZNTs) and AD, using immersion autometallography (AMG) and double immunofluorescence for the ZNTs and Abeta. We found that all the ZNTs tested (ZNT1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) were extensively present in the Abeta-positive plaques in the cortex of human AD brains, and the density of autometallographic silver enhanced zinc-sulphur nanoparticles were much higher in the plaques than in the surrounding zinc enriched (ZEN) terminals. Moreover, we found an abundant expression of ZNT3 and autometallographic grains in the amyloid angiopathic vessels. The subcellular localization of ZNTs and zinc ions were not detected, due to the limited tissue preservation in the present study. In conclusion, our data provided significant morphological evidence of zinc ions and ZNTs being actively involved in the pathological processes that lead to plaque formation.
Zhang
Li-Hong
LH
Department of Histology and Embryology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, PR China. redstone_1992@hotmail.com
Wang
Xin
X
Stoltenberg
Meredin
M
Danscher
Gorm
G
Huang
Liping
L
Wang
Zhan-You
ZY
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; C498299:SLC30A1 protein, human; C102806:SLC30A3 protein, human; C491597:SLC30A4 protein, human; C457225:SLC30A5 protein, human; C504822:SLC30A6 protein, human; C472294:SLC30A7 protein, human; C017800:zinc-binding protein; D015032:Zinc