RESUMEN
Deposition of amyloid beta (A beta) into extracellular plaques is a pathologic characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Plasmin, neprilysin, endothelin-converting enzyme and insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) have each been implicated in A beta degradation; data supporting the role of the latter three enzymes have included increased levels of endogenous murine A beta in mice genetically deficient for the respective enzyme. In this study, we sought to determine if plasminogen deficiency increases endogenous A beta. We report that plasminogen deficiency did not result in an A beta increase in the brain or in the plasma of adult mice. Hence, although plasmin is potentially important in the degradation of A beta aggregates, we interpret these data as suggesting that plasmin does not regulate steady-state A beta levels in non-pathologic conditions.
Asunto(s)
Péptidos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Fibrinolisina/deficiencia , Fibrinolisina/genética , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/biosíntesis , Péptidos beta-Amiloides/sangre , Animales , Femenino , Fibrinolisina/fisiología , Tamización de Portadores Genéticos , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Ratones Transgénicos , Fragmentos de Péptidos/biosíntesis , Fragmentos de Péptidos/sangre , Plasminógeno/deficiencia , Plasminógeno/genéticaRESUMEN
Amyloid-beta (Abeta) appears central to Alzheimer's disease (AD), aggregates spontaneously, and is neurotoxic to neurons in vitro. Recently, several groups reported a familial AD locus on chromosome 10. Here, we note that urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is located within this locus. Previously, we reported that uPA and its functional homolog, tissue-type plasminogen activator, are induced by Abeta treatment of neurons in vitro as well as in a mouse model of Abeta accumulation in vivo. Moreover, the target of plasminogen activators, plasmin, degraded nonaggregated and aggregated Abeta and modulated Abeta toxicity and deposition. Here, we have evaluated the effects of uPA and plasminogen on Abeta fibril formation and neurotoxicity. We report that the combination of uPA and plasminogen, but neither alone, inhibits Abeta toxicity, reduces Abeta deposition in vitro, and inhibits Abeta fibrillogenesis. We interpret these observations as suggesting that uPA represents a possible candidate gene for the chromosome 10 familial AD locus.