Amylin and pramlintide modulate γ-secretase level and APP processing in lipid rafts

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 28;10(1):3751. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60664-5.

Abstract

A major characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the accumulation of misfolded amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. Several studies linked AD with type 2 diabetes due to similarities between Aβ and human amylin. This study investigates the effect of amylin and pramlintide on Aβ pathogenesis and the predisposing molecular mechanism(s) behind the observed effects in TgSwDI mouse, a cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and AD model. Our findings showed that thirty days of intraperitoneal injection with amylin or pramlintide increased Aβ burden in mice brains. Mechanistic studies revealed both peptides altered the amyloidogenic pathway and increased Aβ production by modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) and γ-secretase levels in lipid rafts. In addition, both peptides increased levels of B4GALNT1 enzyme and GM1 ganglioside, and only pramlintide increased the level of GM2 ganglioside. Increased levels of GM1 and GM2 gangliosides play an important role in regulating amyloidogenic pathway proteins in lipid rafts. Increased brain Aβ burden by amylin and pramlintide was associated with synaptic loss, apoptosis, and microglia activation. In conclusion, our findings showed amylin or pramlintide increase Aβ levels and related pathology in TgSwDI mice brains, and suggest that increased amylin levels or the therapeutic use of pramlintide could increase the risk of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / genetics
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / genetics
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology
  • G(M1) Ganglioside / genetics
  • G(M1) Ganglioside / metabolism
  • G(M2) Ganglioside / genetics
  • G(M2) Ganglioside / metabolism
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide / pharmacology*
  • Membrane Microdomains / genetics
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Membrane Microdomains / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / genetics
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*

Substances

  • APP protein, mouse
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
  • G(M2) Ganglioside
  • G(M1) Ganglioside
  • pramlintide
  • N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases
  • beta-1,4-N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase 1, mouse
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases