Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:3.4.24.11 (CD10)
9,792 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We have expressed a cDNA to human apolipoprotein E (apoE) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Secretion of apoE was achieved only by the use of a mutant (upc2) strain of yeast with the phenotype of enhanced uptake and intracellular esterification of exogenous cholesterol. Approximately 40 ng/ml apoE was secreted by upc2 mutants in the absence of media cholesterol. ApoE secretion was increased 2-3-fold upon the inclusion of cholesterol in the growth media. This response to exogenous cholesterol was not mediated at the transcriptional level, since apoE mRNA levels were constant under all culture conditions. Concomitant with the increase in secretion following cholesterol uptake by upc2 strains, approximately 5% of secreted apoE was associated with lipid; polar and non-polar lipids were detected in this lipoprotein fraction. Intracellular degradation of apoE in non-secreting strains of yeast was minimized by the presence of null mutations in both vacuolar proteases with non-specific activity (pep4) and a Golgi endopeptidase with specificity for paired basic residues (kex2). The approach of expressing human apolipoproteins in yeast may identify factors that mediate lipoprotein biosynthesis in higher cells. One such factor could be the mammalian equivalent of the gene product of UPC2.
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PMID:Secretion and lipid association of human apolipoprotein E in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires a host mutation in sterol esterification and uptake. 188 60

Biochemical and genetic evidence indicates the balance of biogenesis/clearance of Abeta amyloid peptides is altered in Alzheimer's disease. Abeta is derived, by two sequential cleavages, from the receptor-like amyloid precursor protein (APP). The proteases involved are beta-secretase, identified as the novel aspartyl protease BACE, and gamma-secretase, a multimeric complex containing the presenilins (PS). Gamma-secretase can release either Abeta40 or the more aggregating and cytotoxic Abeta42. Secreted Abeta peptides become either degraded by the metalloproteases insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) and neprilysin or metabolized through receptor uptake mediated by apolipoprotein E. Therapeutic approaches based on secretase inhibition or amyloid clearance are currently under development.
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PMID:Biogenesis and metabolism of Alzheimer's disease Abeta amyloid peptides. 1212 85

The amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide, a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), undergoes a cascade of interactions resulting in the formation of soluble aggregates and their conversion in the brain to insoluble deposits and mature senile plaques. Furthermore, the apoE4 isoform of apolipoprotein E (apoE), which is the major genetic risk factor of AD, is associated with increased Abeta deposition. It is not known how the different Abeta aggregates in the amyloid cascade are formed, contribute to the pathogenesis of AD, or are affected by apoE4. To investigate the initial aggregation stages underlying the amyloid cascade in vivo and how apoE affects them, we examined the effects of prolonged inhibition and subsequent reactivation of the Abeta-degrading protease neprilysin on deposition, disaggregation, and fibrillization of Abeta in apoE-transgenic and control mice. In control mice, intracerebroventricular infusion of thiorphan, which inhibits neprilysin, induced Abeta42 and Abeta40 deposition and fibrillization. On termination of thiorphan treatment, the number of Abeta deposits decreased, whereas the fibrillar Abeta deposits were unaffected. Similar treatments in apoE-deficient mice and mice transgenic for human apoE4 or apoE3 revealed that apoE4 enhances specifically the nucleation and aggregation of immunopositive Abeta deposits and that reversible disaggregation of these deposits and their irreversible conversion to fibrillar deposits are stimulated similarly by the different apoE isoforms. Deposition of Abeta and its enhancement by apoE4 were accompanied by increased astrogliosis both far from and near the Abeta deposits, suggesting that astrogliosis might be triggered by both insoluble and soluble Abeta aggregates.
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PMID:A nontransgenic mouse model shows inducible amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide deposition and elucidates the role of apolipoprotein E in the amyloid cascade. 1536 76

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is characterized by cerebrovascular amyloid deposition, associated with intracerebral hemorrhage and other cerebrovascular disorders and dementia. Several types of CAA have been identified in association with various amyloid proteins including amyloid beta protein (Abeta), cystatin C, prion protein, ABri/ADan, transthyretin, and gelsolin. Hereditary forms of CAA are associated with mutations in the genes coding these proteins or their precursors. Sporadic CAA of Abeta type is most common in elderly individuals as well as patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Several gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with sporadic CAA or CAA-related hemorrhage, including apolipoprotein E (APOE), presenilin 1 (PS1), and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT). As for the APOE, which has been well studied for CAA as well as AD and Abeta deposition, the epsilon4 allele is found to be associated with CAA, and the epsilon2 with CAA-related hemorrhage. Recently, we investigated whether gene polymorphisms of neprilysin (NEP), an Abeta-degrading enzyme, and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 (TGF-beta1), a multifunctional cytokine implicated in Abeta deposition, are associated with sporadic CAA. Concerning a GT repeat polymorphism in the enhancer/promoter region of the NEP, the shorter repeat alleles were associated with the CAA severity. The T/C polymorphism at codon 10 in exon 1 of the TGF-beta1 was also associated with the severity of CAA. These data suggest that multiple gene polymorphisms, including molecules related to the Abeta cascade, could be associated with the risk of sporadic CAA.
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PMID:Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and gene polymorphisms. 1553 17

Microglia accumulation at the site of amyloid plaques is a strong indication that microglia play a major role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. However, how microglia affect amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta) deposition remains poorly understood. To address this question, we developed a novel bigenic mouse that overexpresses both amyloid precursor protein (APP) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2 in systematic nomenclature). CCL2 expression, driven by the glial fibrillary acidic protein promoter, induced mononuclear phagocyte (MP; monocyte-derived macrophage and microglial) accumulation in the brain. When APP/CCL2 transgenic mice were compared to APP mice, a fivefold increase in Abeta deposition was present despite increased MP accumulation around hippocampal and cortical amyloid plaques. Levels of full-length APP, its C-terminal fragment, and Abeta-degrading enzymes (insulin-degrading enzyme and neprilysin) in APP/CCL2 and APP mice were indistinguishable. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-insoluble Abeta (an indicator of fibrillar Abeta) was increased in APP/CCL2 mice at 5 months of age. Apolipoprotein E, which enhances Abeta deposition, was also increased (2.2-fold) in aged APP/CCL2 as compared to APP mice. We propose that although CCL2 stimulates MP accumulation, it increases Abeta deposition by reducing Abeta clearance through increased apolipoprotein E expression. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these events could be used to modulate microglial function in Alzheimer's disease and positively affect disease outcomes.
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PMID:Overexpression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1/CCL2 in beta-amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice show accelerated diffuse beta-amyloid deposition. 1585 47

The amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide is a major constituent of the brain senile plaques that characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD). Converging observations led to the formulation of the amyloid hypothesis whereby the accumulation of soluble aggregates and insoluble Abeta deposits is the primary event in AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, the apoE4 isoform of apolipoprotein E, a major prevalent genetic risk factor of AD, is associated with increased Abeta deposition. To investigate the initial stages of the amyloid cascade in vivo and how this is affected by apoE4, we studied the effects of prolonged inhibition and subsequent reactivation of the Abeta-degrading enzyme, neprilysin, on aggregation and deposition of Abeta in apoE transgenic and control mice. The results revealed that Abeta deposition in vivo is initiated by aggregation of Abeta42, which is followed by reversible deposition of both Abeta42 and Abeta40, along with growth of the deposits, and by their subsequent irreversible fibrillization. The initiation of Abeta42 deposition is accelerated isoform-specifically by apoE4, whereas the growth and dissolution of the Abeta deposits as well as their fibrillization are similarly stimulated by the various apoE isoforms. Interestingly, Abeta deposition was associated with increased gliosis, which may reflect early pathological interactions of beta with the brain's parenchyma.
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PMID:The nucleation growth and reversibility of Amyloid-beta deposition in vivo. 1711 94

Considerable progress has been made in recent years towards better understanding the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a dementing neurodegenerative disorder that affects > 10 million individuals in the US and Europe combined. Recent studies suggest that alterations in the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), resulting in the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein (Abeta) and the formation of oligomers leads to synaptic damage and neurodegeneration. Therefore, strategies for treatment development have been focused on reducing Abeta accumulation using, among other approaches, antiaggregation molecules, regulators of the APP proteolysis and processing, reducing APP production (e.g., small-interfering RNA), and increasing Abeta clearance with antibodies, apolipoprotein E and Abeta-degrading enzymes (e.g., neprilysin). The main focus of this review is on novel treatments for AD with a special emphasis on delivering neuroprotective and antiamyloidogenic molecules by gene therapy and by promoting neurogenesis.
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PMID:Novel strategies for Alzheimer's disease treatment. 1803 51

The allele E4 of apolipoprotein E (apoE4), the most prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, is associated histopathologically with elevated levels of brain amyloid. This led to the suggestion that the pathological effects of apoE4 are mediated by cross-talk interactions with amyloid beta peptide (Abeta), which accentuate the pathological effects of the amyloid cascade. The mechanisms underlying the Abeta-mediated pathological effects of apoE4 are unknown. We have shown recently that inhibition of the Abeta-degrading enzyme neprilysin in brains of wild-type apoE3 and apoE4 mice results in rapid and similar elevations in their total brain Abeta levels. However, the nucleation and aggregation of Abeta in these mice were markedly affected by the apoE genotype and were specifically enhanced in the apoE4 mice. We presently used the neprilysin inhibition paradigm to analyze the neuropathological and cognitive effects that are induced by apoE4 after activation of the amyloid cascade. This revealed that apoE4 stimulates isoform specifically the degeneration of hippocampal CA1 neurons and of entorhinal and septal neurons, which is accompanied by the accumulation of intracellular Abeta and apoE and with lysosomal activation. Furthermore, these neuropathological effects are associated isoform specifically with the occurrence of pronounced cognitive deficits in the ApoE4 mice. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence regarding the cellular mechanisms underlying the pathological cross talk between apoE4 and Abeta, as well as a novel model system of neurodegeneration in vivo that is uniquely suitable for studying the early stages of the amyloid cascade and the effects thereon of apoE4.
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PMID:Activation of the amyloid cascade in apolipoprotein E4 transgenic mice induces lysosomal activation and neurodegeneration resulting in marked cognitive deficits. 1844 46

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is cerebrovascular amyloid deposition and is related to stroke and dementia. CAA is classified into 6 types according to the biochemical properties of amyloid proteins, and among 6 types, the sporadic CAA of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) type is most frequently found in elderly people or patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). In sporadic CAA of the Abeta type, the epsilon4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene is associated with increased vascular Abeta deposition, while the epsilon2 allele is associated with CAA-related intracerebral hemorrhage. We have also reported that the genetic polymorphisms of presenilin-1, neprilysin, transforming growth factor beta-1, and alpha1-antichymotrypsin are associated with CAA. In the case of hereditary CAA of the Abeta type, mutations in the genes of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilins have been reported. Interestingly, the missense mutations associated with CAA are located in the middle portion of Abeta, while those associated with familial AD (FAD) are near the N- or C- terminals of Abeta. Individuals with FAD with APP duplication have been reported to present with severe CAA. Some of the FAD patients with mutations in the presenilin genes and patients with Down syndrome also show CAA as a complication. Besides sporadic or hereditary CAA of the Abeta type, hereditary CAA with cerebrovascular deposition of cystatin C, transthyretin, gelsolin, prion protein, and ABri/ADan have also been reported in association with mutations in the genes of the precursor proteins. Better understanding of the genetic factors influencing CAA will lead to identification of novel diagnostic markers and the development of preventive for CAA and CAA-related disorders.
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PMID:[Genetic factors for cerebral amyloid angiopathy]. 1906 61

Although apolipoprotein E (apoE) is the most common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), how apoE participates in AD pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. ApoE is also the major carrier of lipids in the brain. Here, we review studies showing that the lipidation status of apoE influences the metabolism of Abeta peptides, which accumulate as amyloid deposits in the neural parenchyma and cerebrovasculature. One effect of apoE is to inhibit the transport of Abeta across the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), particularly when apoE is lipidated. A second effect is to facilitate the proteolytic degradation of Abeta by neprilysin and insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), which is enhanced when apoE is lipidated. We also describe how apoE becomes lipidated and how this impacts Abeta metabolism. Specifically, genetic loss of the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 impairs apoE lipidation and promotes amyloid deposition in AD mouse models. ABCA1 catalyses the ATP-dependent transport of cholesterol and phospholipids from the plasma membrane to lipid-free apolipoproteins including apoE. Conversely, selective overexpression of ABCA1 increases apoE lipidation in the central nervous system (CNS) and eliminates the formation of amyloid plaques in vivo. Deficiency of Liver-X-Receptors (LXRs), transcription factors that stimulate ABCA1 and apoE expression, exacerbates AD pathogenesis in vivo, whereas treatment of AD mice with synthetic LXR agonists reduces amyloid load and improves cognitive performance. These studies provide new insights into the mechanisms by which apoE affects Abeta metabolism, and offer opportunities to develop novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the leading cause of dementia in the elderly.
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PMID:Greasing the wheels of Abeta clearance in Alzheimer's disease: the role of lipids and apolipoprotein E. 1947 65


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