Increased β-secretase activity and expression in rats following transient cerebral ischemia

Yi Wen, Otuonye Onyewuchi, Shaohua Yang, Ran Liu, James W. Simpkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

174 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aberrant proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretases is key to amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Identification of an aspartyl protease as the β-secretase (β-site APP cleaving enzyme, BACE) involved in APP processing provides a pharmaceutical target for potential AD treatment. In the present studies, we demonstrate that transient cerebral ischemia in female rats caused a 30% increase in β-secretase activity. α-Secretase activity did not increase significantly. We examined protein levels of BACE1, and its analogue BACE2, in ischemic brain extracts. BACE1 protein levels increased 67%, while BACE2 protein level did not change after such a transient ischemia. Immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that BACE1 protein was increased in the ischemic neocortex, when compared with its contralateral cortex. Further, colocalization assessment indicated that BACE1 strongly associated with staining for the apoptotic marker, TUNEL. These results may partially explain epidemiological study, which demonstrate a higher incidence of dementia after stroke. Further, our results support the hypothesis that apoptosis and aberrant APP processing are correlated events in AD brain, and suggest that inhibition of BACE may have a therapeutic effect in the prevention of dementia after stroke recovery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalBrain Research
Volume1009
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 29 May 2004

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • Amyloid precursor protein
  • BACE

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Increased β-secretase activity and expression in rats following transient cerebral ischemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this