Capsaicin promotes the amyloidogenic route of brain amyloid precursor protein processing.
Besides being an important component of spices used worldwide, capsaicin has wide-ranging therapeutic potential as a hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Accordingly, it is very important to investigate the long-term effect of capsaicin in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, the effects of capsaicin on the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) were investigated in an in vivo model. The APP mRNA and protein levels were examined in the brain cortices of control and capsaicin-treated rats. The protein kinase C (PKC) translocation state in the soluble and membrane-bound fractions and the levels of beta-secretase (BACE) were also evaluated. Capsaicin enhanced the level of membrane-bound APP 1.7-fold. The APP mRNA and PKC and BACE protein levels were unchanged after capsaicin treatment. These in vivo data indicate that capsaicin is able to interfere with the brain APP metabolism by promoting the amyloidogenic route. We suggest that PKC is not involved in the mechanism underlying the effects.
Pákáski
Magdolna
M
Alzheimer's Disease Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Szeged, 6 Semmelweis, H-6725 Szeged, Hungary. pakaski@comser.szote-u.szeged.hu
Hugyecz
Marietta
M
Sántha
Péter
P
Jancsó
Gábor
G
Bjelik
Annamária
A
Domokos
Agnes
A
Janka
Zoltán
Z
Kálmán
János
J
D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D000682:Amyloid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000378:metabolism; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D000199:Actins; D000682:Amyloid; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D002211:Capsaicin