Abstract
Gangliosides, GM3 and GM1, are suggested to accelerate the deposition of the amyloid beta-protein as amyloid angiopathy and senile plaques, respectively, in the Alzheimer brain. We investigated the profile of amyloid deposition in the brains of transgenic mice expressing a mutant amyloid precursor protein with a disrupted GM2 synthase gene, in which GM3 accumulates whereas GM1 is lacking. These mice showed a significantly increased level of deposited amyloid beta-protein in the vascular tissues. Furthermore, formation of severe dyshoric-form amyloid angiopathy, in which amyloid extended from the blood vessel walls deeply into the surrounding parenchyma was observed. Our results indicate that the expression of gangliosides is a critical determinant for the amyloid pathology in the Alzheimer brain.
MeSH terms
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Aging
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Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
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Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
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Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
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Animals
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Blood Vessels / metabolism
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Blood Vessels / pathology
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Blotting, Western
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Brain / blood supply
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Brain / pathology*
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Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism
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Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology
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G(M1) Ganglioside / deficiency
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G(M1) Ganglioside / metabolism*
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G(M3) Ganglioside / metabolism*
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Humans
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Immunohistochemistry
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Mutation
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N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases / genetics
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Protease Nexins
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Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
Substances
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Amyloid beta-Peptides
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Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
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G(M3) Ganglioside
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Protease Nexins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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G(M1) Ganglioside
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N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases
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(N-acetylneuraminyl)-galactosylglucosylceramide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase