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The unfolded protein response is activated in Alzheimer’s disease

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Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is, at the neuropathological level, characterized by the accumulation and aggregation of misfolded proteins. The presence of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers a cellular stress response called the unfolded protein response (UPR) that may protect the cell against the toxic buildup of misfolded proteins. In this study we investigated the activation of the UPR in AD. Protein levels of BiP/GRP78, a molecular chaperone which is up-regulated during the UPR, was found to be increased in AD temporal cortex and hippocampus as determined by Western blot analysis. At the immunohistochemical level intensified staining of BiP/GRP78 was observed in AD, which did not co-localize with AT8-positive neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, we performed immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated (activated) pancreatic ER kinase (p-PERK), an ER kinase which is activated during the UPR. p-PERK was observed in neurons in AD patients, but not in non-demented control cases and did not co-localize with AT8-positive tangles. Overall, these data show that the UPR is activated in AD, and the increased occurrence of BiP/GRP78 and p-PERK in cytologically normal-appearing neurons suggest a role for the UPR early in AD neurodegeneration. Although the initial participation of the UPR in AD pathogenesis might be neuroprotective, sustained activation of the UPR in AD might initiate or mediate neurodegeneration.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Netherlands Brain Bank for supplying the human brain tissue (coordinator Dr. R. Ravid), Dr. W. Kamphorst for the neuropathological diagnosis of control and AD tissue, and Marlies Jacobs for her technical assistance. This study was supported by the Internationale Stichting Alzheimer Onderzoek (ISAO grant 02501 to J.H., grant 02504 to W.S.). W.S. is a fellow of the Anton Meelmeijer Center for Translational Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurogenetics Laboratory, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22660, 1100 DD, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. J. M. Hoozemans, E. S. Van Haastert, F. Baas & W. Scheper

  2. Department of Neuropathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. J. M. Hoozemans, E. S. Van Haastert & J. M. Rozemuller

  3. Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    F. Baas & P. Eikelenboom

  4. Department of Psychiatry, VU university medical center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    R. Veerhuis & P. Eikelenboom

Authors
  1. J. J. M. Hoozemans
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  2. R. Veerhuis
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  3. E. S. Van Haastert
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  4. J. M. Rozemuller
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  5. F. Baas
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  6. P. Eikelenboom
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  7. W. Scheper
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Correspondence to J. J. M. Hoozemans.

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Hoozemans, J.J.M., Veerhuis, R., Van Haastert, E.S. et al. The unfolded protein response is activated in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol 110, 165–172 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-005-1038-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-005-1038-0

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