Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
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Home > Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Deficiency Deregulates Regional Brain Amyloid-β Protein Precursor Expression and Phosphorylation Levels.

TitleMethylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Deficiency Deregulates Regional Brain Amyloid-β Protein Precursor Expression and Phosphorylation Levels.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsHoffman, A, Taleski, G, Qian, H, Wasek, B, Arning, E, Bottiglieri, T, Sontag, J-M, Sontag, E
JournalJ Alzheimers Dis
Volume64
Issue1
Pagination223-237
Date Published2018
ISSN1875-8908
Abstract

Deregulation of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) plays a critical role in the neurodegenerative cascade of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Significantly, common functional polymorphisms in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are a risk factor for the development of late-onset AD. Reduced MTHFR activity is associated with alterations in folate and homocysteine metabolism. Here, we first show that in young MTHFR knockout mice, mild and severe MTHFR deficiency markedly increase cortical and hippocampal AβPP phosphorylation at the regulatory Thr668 site. However, the hippocampus is especially vulnerable to the effects of aging and mild MTHFR deficiency. Notably, the effects of severe MTHFR deficiency in young mice are recapitulated by prolonged dietary folate deficiency in old mice, which leads to regional brain accumulation of cystathionine due to impaired methylation of homocysteine. The incremental AβPP phosphorylation at Thr668 mediated by severe genetic-or diet-induced impairment of the folate cycle correlates with enhanced accumulation of demethylated protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), and activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Lastly, we show that severe disturbances in folate metabolism can also affect AβPP expression levels in a brain region specific manner. Together our findings identify a novel link between genetic MTHFR deficiency, activation of GSK-3β, demethylation of PP2A, and enhanced phosphorylation of AβPP at Thr668, which is known to critically influence neuronal AβPP function and pathological amyloidogenic processing. Deregulation of AβPP provides a novel mechanism by which common human MTHFR polymorphisms may interact with dietary folate deficiency to alter neuronal homeostasis and increase the risk for sporadic AD.

DOI10.3233/JAD-180032
Alternate JournalJ. Alzheimers Dis.
PubMed ID29865064
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Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/methylenetetrahydrofolate-reductase-deficiency-deregulates-regional-brain-amyloid-%CE%B2-protein