Processing of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein in cultured cells.
type: CreativeWork
description: The deposition in the brain of the 4 kDa beta-amyloid peptide (betaA4), from amyloid precursor protein (APP), is a key pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The single APP gene is spliced to give 3 major isoforms. In the majority of body tissues, the most common APP isoforms are APP[751] and APP[770], which both contain a Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain, APP[695] is predominant in the brain. APP is processed through several pathways, not all of which lead to betaA4 production. Central nervous system (CNS) neurones in vivo secrete betaA4, which can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, though it is unknown why betaA4 is deposited in the brain in AD. NTera2 (NT2) cells derived from a human teratocarcinoma were used as a model of APP processing. Retinoic acid induces these cells to differentiate into a neuronal phenotype (NT2N cells), which has been shown to closely resemble immature human CNS neurones. Both cell types produce high levels of endogenous APP.Intracellular and secreted APP was studied in both cell types by means of western blotting and immunoprecipitation with a panel of antibodies. It was found that NT2 cells predominantly make and secrete KPI containing APP. NT2N cells make and secrete predominantly APP[695] though some KPI containing APP is also present.There is evidence that neurones in the AD brain are in a state of stress, which could increase levels of APP due to a heat shock promotor region in its gene. To investigate this, NT2 cells were subjected to a heat shock, which resulted in increased levels of heat shock protein (HSP) and APP. KPI containing APP predominated, but there was no corresponding increase in secreted APP. Both cell types were also serum deprived, which resulted in little effect on protein production in NT2 stem cells. However, the neuronal cells showed a small increase in intracellular, KPI-containing APP and in HSP. A reduction in overall APP secretion, and cessation of KPI secretion accompanied this.To further invest…
abstract: The deposition in the brain of the 4 kDa beta-amyloid peptide (betaA4), from amyloid precursor protein (APP), is a key pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The single APP gene is spliced to give 3 major isoforms. In the majority of body tissues, the most common APP isoforms are APP[751] and APP[770], which both contain a Kunitz protease inhibitor (KPI) domain, APP[695] is predominant in the brain. APP is processed through several pathways, not all of which lead to betaA4 production. Central nervous system (CNS) neurones in vivo secrete betaA4, which can be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, though it is unknown why betaA4 is deposited in the brain in AD. NTera2 (NT2) cells derived from a human teratocarcinoma were used as a model of APP processing. Retinoic acid induces these cells to differentiate into a neuronal phenotype (NT2N cells), which has been shown to closely resemble immature human CNS neurones. Both cell types produce high levels of endogenous APP.Intracellular and secreted APP was studied in both cell types by means of western blotting and immunoprecipitation with a panel of antibodies. It was found that NT2 cells predominantly make and secrete KPI containing APP. NT2N cells make and secrete predominantly APP[695] though some KPI containing APP is also present.There is evidence that neurones in the AD brain are in a state of stress, which could increase levels of APP due to a heat shock promotor region in its gene. To investigate this, NT2 cells were subjected to a heat shock, which resulted in increased levels of heat shock protein (HSP) and APP. KPI containing APP predominated, but there was no corresponding increase in secreted APP. Both cell types were also serum deprived, which resulted in little effect on protein production in NT2 stem cells. However, the neuronal cells showed a small increase in intracellular, KPI-containing APP and in HSP. A reduction in overall APP secretion, and cessation of KPI secretion accompanied this.To further invest…
author: Bowes, Simone.
language: en
date published: 1999
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:31:14Z
provider: Sheffield Hallam University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Sheffield Hallam University (United Kingdom).