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Home > Increased Expression of Readthrough Acetylcholinesterase Variants in the Brains of Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

TitleIncreased Expression of Readthrough Acetylcholinesterase Variants in the Brains of Alzheimer's Disease Patients.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsCampanari, M-L, Navarrete, F, Ginsberg, SD, Manzanares, J, Sáez-Valero, J, García-Ayllón, M-S
JournalJ Alzheimers Dis
Volume53
Issue3
Pagination831-41
Date Published2016 May 30
ISSN1875-8908
Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by a decrease in the enzymatic activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is expressed as multiple splice variants, which may serve both cholinergic degradative functions and non-cholinergic functions unrelated with their capacity to hydrolyze acetylcholine. We have recently demonstrated that a prominent pool of enzymatically inactive AChE protein exists in the AD brain. In this study, we analyzed protein and transcript levels of individual AChE variants in human frontal cortex from AD patients by western blot analysis using specific anti-AChE antibodies and by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). We found similar protein and mRNA levels of the major cholinergic "tailed"-variant (AChE-T) and the anchoring subunit, proline-rich membrane anchor (PRiMA-1) in frontal cortex obtained from AD patients and non-demented controls. Interestingly, we found an increase in the protein and transcript levels of the non-cholinergic "readthrough" AChE (AChE-R) variants in AD patients compared to controls. Similar increases were detected by western blot using an antibody raised against the specific N-terminal domain, exclusive of alternative N-extended variants of AChE (N-AChE). In accordance with a subset of AChE-R monomers that display amphiphilic properties that are upregulated in the AD brain, we demonstrate that the increase of N-AChE species is due, at least in part, to N-AChE-R variants. In conclusion, we demonstrate selective alterations in specific AChE variants in AD cortex, with no correlation in enzymatic activity. Therefore, differential expression of AChE variants in AD may reflect changes in the pathophysiological role of AChE, independent of cholinergic impairment or its role in degrading acetylcholine.

DOI10.3233/JAD-160220
Alternate JournalJ. Alzheimers Dis.
PubMed ID27258420
PubMed Central IDPMC5013723
Grant ListR01 AG043375 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
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Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/increased-expression-readthrough-acetylcholinesterase-variants-brains-alzheimers-disease