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Attenuating astrocyte activation accelerates plaque pathogenesis in APP/PS1 mice
Author(s) -
Kraft Andrew W.,
Hu Xiaoyan,
Yoon Hyejin,
Yan Ping,
Xiao Qingli,
Wang Yan,
Gil So Chon,
Brown Jennifer,
Wilhelmsson Ulrika,
Restivo Jessica L.,
Cirrito John R.,
Holtzman David M.,
Kim Jungsu,
Pekny Milos,
Lee JinMoo
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.12-208660
Subject(s) - astrocyte , presenilin , glial fibrillary acidic protein , amyloid precursor protein , neurite , genetically modified mouse , senile plaques , pathogenesis , transgene , biology , pathology , neurofilament , vimentin , amyloid (mycology) , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , alzheimer's disease , endocrinology , gene , medicine , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , central nervous system , disease , in vitro
The accumulation of aggregated amyloid‐β (Aβ) in amyloid plaques is a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reactive astrocytes are intimately associated with amyloid plaques; however, their role in AD pathogenesis is unclear. We deleted the genes encoding two intermediate filament proteins required for astrocyte activation—glial fibrillary acid protein ( Gfap ) and vimentin ( Vim )—in transgenic mice expressing mutant human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin‐1 (APP/PS1). The gene deletions increased amyloid plaque load: APP/PS1 Gfap –/– Vim –/– mice had twice the plaque load of APP/PS1 Gfap +/+ Vim +/+ mice at 8 and 12 mo of age. APP expression and soluble and interstitial fluid Aβ levels were unchanged, suggesting that the deletions had no effect on APP processing or Aβ generation. Astrocyte morphology was markedly altered by the deletions: wild‐type astrocytes had hypertrophied processes that surrounded and infiltrated plaques, whereas Gfap –/– Vim –/– astrocytes had little process hypertrophy and lacked contact with adjacent plaques. Moreover, Gfap and Vim gene deletion resulted in a marked increase in dystrophic neurites (2‐ to 3‐fold higher than APP/PS1 Gfap +/+ Vim +/+ mice), even after normalization for amyloid load. These results suggest that astrocyte activation limits plaque growth and attenuates plaque‐related dystrophic neurites. These activities may require intimate contact between astrocyte and plaque.—Kraft, A. W., Hu, X., Yoon, H., Yan, P., Xiao, Q., Wang, Y., Gil, S. C., Brown, J., Wilhelmsson, U., Restivo, J. L., Cirrito, J. R., Holtzman, D. M., Kim, J., Pekny, M., Lee, J.‐M. Attenuating astrocyte activation accelerates plaque pathogenesis in APP/PS1 mice. FASEB J. 27, 187–198 (2013). www.fasebj.org