Toiber D, Berson A, Greenberg D, Melamed-Book N, Diamant S, Soreq H. N-acetylcholinesterase-induced apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease.
PLoS One 2008;
3:e3108. [PMID:
18769671 PMCID:
PMC2518620 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0003108]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2008] [Accepted: 08/08/2008] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves loss of cholinergic neurons and Tau protein hyper-phosphorylation. Here, we report that overexpression of an N-terminally extended “synaptic” acetylcholinesterase variant, N-AChE-S is causally involved in both these phenomena.
Methodology and Principal Findings
In transfected primary brain cultures, N-AChE-S induced cell death, morphological impairments and caspase 3 activation. Rapid internalization of fluorescently labeled fasciculin-2 to N-AChE-S transfected cells indicated membranal localization. In cultured cell lines, N-AChE-S transfection activated the Tau kinase GSK3, induced Tau hyper-phosphorylation and caused apoptosis. N-AChE-S-induced cell death was suppressible by inhibiting GSK3 or caspases, by enforced overexpression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 proteins, or by AChE inhibition or silencing. Moreover, inherent N-AChE-S was upregulated by stressors inducing protein misfolding and calcium imbalances, both characteristic of AD; and in cortical tissues from AD patients, N-AChE-S overexpression coincides with Tau hyper-phosphorylation.
Conclusions
Together, these findings attribute an apoptogenic role to N-AChE-S and outline a potential value to AChE inhibitor therapeutics in early AD.
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