Converging pathways of chromogranin and amyloid metabolism in the brain

J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(4):1039-49. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-091651.

Abstract

Much is unknown regarding the regulation of Alzheimer-related amyloid-beta protein precursor (AbetaPP)-processing in the human central nervous system. It has been hypothesized that amyloidogenic AbetaPP-processing preferentially occurs in the regulated secretory pathway of neurons. To test this hypothesis we looked for correlations of AbetaPP-derived molecules in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with chromogranin (Cg) derived peptides, representing the regulated secretion. Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD, N=32), multiple sclerosis (MS, N=50), and healthy controls (N= 70) were enrolled. CSF was analyzed for the amyloid peptides Abeta1-42, Abetax-42, Abetax-40, Abetax-38, alpha-cleaved soluble AbetaPP (sAbetaPPalpha), beta-cleaved soluble AbetaPP (sAbetaPPbeta), and peptides derived from CgB and SgII (Secretogranin-II, CgC). We investigated CSF levels of the protease BACE1, which processes AbetaPP into Abeta, in relation to Cg-levels. Finally, we measured Cg levels in cell media from untreated and BACE1-inhibited SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. CSF Cg levels correlated to sAbetaPP and Abeta peptides in AD, MS, and controls, and to CSF BACE1. Cell medium from BACE1-inhibited cells had decreased CgB levels. These results suggest that a large part of AbetaPP in the human central nervous system is processed in the regulated secretory pathway of neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Amyloid / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Biomarkers
  • Biosynthetic Pathways
  • Brain Chemistry / physiology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromogranins / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Chromogranins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Multiple Sclerosis / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Biomarkers
  • Chromogranins
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human