title: Expression of the apoptosis-related proteins caspase-3 and NF-kappaB in the hippocampus of Tg2576 mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relations between neuroapoptosis and the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially the role of NF-kappaB in the regulation of neuroapoptosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caspase-3 and NF-kappaB (p50) expressions in the CA3 region of the hippocampus in APPswe Tg2576 transgenic mice were studied from postnatal day 0-180, using Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both neuronal apoptosis and NF-kappaB activity decreased gradually with the increase of age in wild type and Tg2576 mice. However, the number of caspase-3-positive or NF-kappaB-positive pyramidal cells in Tg2576 mice was greater than that in age-matched wild type mice, with significant differences after postnatal day 14 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Linear regression analyses of caspase-3 and NF-kappaB expression demonstrated a correlation between neuroapoptosis and activity of NF-kappaB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The process of neuroapoptosis is consistent with the onset and development of AD. Furthermore, the observed correlation between neuroapoptosis and NF-kappaB activity suggests a role of NF-kappaB in hippocampal neuroapoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, Nursing College of Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Li
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Wei-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guo-Tao
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dong-Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jin-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D056654:CA3 Region, Hippocampal / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3