Mitochondrial toxic effects of Aβ through mitofusins in the early pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

Mol Neurobiol. 2014 Dec;50(3):986-96. doi: 10.1007/s12035-014-8675-z. Epub 2014 Apr 8.

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it is obscure how amyloid-beta (Aβ) can impair mitochondria in the early stage of AD pathology. Using PrP-hAPP/hPS1 double-transgenic AD mouse model, we find that abnormal mitochondrial morphology and damaged mitochondrial structure in hippocampal neurons appear in the early stage of AD-like disease development. We also find consistent mitochondrial abnormalities in the SH-SY5Y cells, which express amyloid precursor protein (APP) Swedish mutation (APPsw) and have been used as a cell model of the early-onset AD. Significant changes of mitofusin GTPases (Mfn1 and Mfn2) were detected both in the PrP-hAPP/hPS1 brains and SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, our results show that Aβ accumulation in neurons of PrP-hAPP/hPS1 mice can affect the neurogenesis prior to plaque formation. These findings suggest that mitochondrial impairment is a very early event in AD pathogenesis and abnormal expression of Mfn1 and Mfn2 caused by excessive intracellular Aβ is the possible molecular mechanism. Interestingly, L-theanine has significant effects on regulating mitochondrial fusion proteins in SH-SY5Y (APPsw) cells. Overall, our results not only suggest a new early mechanism of AD pathogenesis but also propose a preventive candidate, L-theanine, for the treatment of AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism*
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Presenilin-1 / genetics
  • Presenilin-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Presenilin-1
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • Mfn1 protein, mouse
  • Mfn2 protein, mouse