Oxidation of Aβ and Plaque Biogenesis in Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome

Elizabeth Head; William Garzon-Rodriguez; Julene K. Johnson; Ira T. Lott; Carl W. Cotman; Charles Glabe

Neurobiology of Disease (Oct 2001)

Oxidation of Aβ and Plaque Biogenesis in Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome

Elizabeth Head,
William Garzon-Rodriguez,
Julene K. Johnson,
Ira T. Lott,
Carl W. Cotman,
Charles Glabe

Affiliations

Elizabeth Head: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
William Garzon-Rodriguez: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
Julene K. Johnson: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
Ira T. Lott: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
Carl W. Cotman: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697
Charles Glabe: Institute for Brain Aging & Dementia, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-4540; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697-3900; Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Facultad de Quimica, 04510, Mexico, D.F. Mexico; Mental Retardation Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, California, 92697

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 8, no. 5
pp. 792 – 806

Abstract

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The processes involved with β-amyloid (Aβ) degradation and clearance in human brain are not well understood. We hypothesized that the distribution of oxidatively modified Aβ, as determined by an affinity-purified antibody in the entorhinal and frontal cortices of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Down syndrome (DS), nondemented elderly control cases, and canine brain, would provide insight into the mechanisms of Aβ accumulation. Based upon plaque counts, oxidized Aβ was present within 46–48% of diffuse and primitive plaques and 98% of cored plaques. Dense punctate deposits of oxidized Aβ were distributed throughout the neuropil in AD and DS brains but were also present within controls with mild neuropathology and isolated cognitive impairments. Confocal studies indicate that punctate oxidized Aβ deposits were within activated microglia. Oxidatively modified Aβ may reflect the efforts of microglial cells to take up and degrade Aβ. Oxidative modification of Aβ may be an early event in Aβ pathogenesis and may be important for plaque biogenesis.

Published in Neurobiology of Disease

ISSN: 0969-9961 (Print); 1095-953X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neurobiology-of-disease

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