The intracellular domain of amyloid precursor protein induces neuron-specific apoptosis.
Although amyloid precursor protein (APP) has central roles in Alzheimer's disease, the physiological functions of this protein have yet to be fully elucidated. APP homologues show significant sequence conservation in the intracellular domain through evolution, which may reflect the functional importance of the intracellular domain of APP (AICD). To examine this possibility, we established embryonic carcinoma P19 cell lines overexpressing AICD. Although neurons could be differentiated from these cell lines with retinoic acid treatment, overexpression of AICD gave rise to neuron-specific cell death. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation was detected and TUNEL-positive cells were also Tuj1-positive neurons. Taken together, we concluded that AICD can induce neuron-specific apoptosis.
Nakayama
Kohzo
K
Department of Anatomy, Shinshu University, School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan. kohzona@gipac.shinshu-u.ac.jp
Ohkawara
Takeshi
T
Hiratochi
Masahiro
M
Koh
Chang-Sung
CS
Nagase
Hisashi
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D014212:Tretinoin