| First Author | Amar F | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Sci Signal | Volume | 10 |
| Issue | 478 | PubMed ID | 28487416 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:259544 | Mgi Id | MGI:6142033 |
| Doi | 10.1126/scisignal.aal2021 | Citation | Amar F, et al. (2017) The amyloid-beta oligomer Abeta*56 induces specific alterations in neuronal signaling that lead to tau phosphorylation and aggregation. Sci Signal 10(478) |
| abstractText | Oligomeric forms of amyloid-forming proteins are believed to be the principal initiating bioactive species in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer''s disease (AD). Amyloid-beta (Abeta) oligomers are implicated in AD-associated phosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. To investigate the specific molecular pathways activated by different assemblies, we isolated various forms of Abeta from Tg2576 mice, which are a model for AD. We found that Abeta*56, a 56-kDa oligomer that is detected before patients develop overt signs of AD, induced specific changes in neuronal signaling. In primary cortical neurons, Abeta*56 interacted with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), increased NMDAR-dependent Ca(2+) influx, and consequently increased intracellular calcium concentrations and the activation of Ca(2+)-dependent calmodulin kinase IIalpha (CaMKIIalpha). In cultured neurons and in the brains of Tg2576 mice, activated CaMKIIalpha was associated with increased site-specific phosphorylation and missorting of tau, both of which are associated with AD pathology. In contrast, exposure of cultured primary cortical neurons to other oligomeric Abeta forms (dimers and trimers) did not trigger these effects. Our results indicate that distinct Abeta assemblies activate neuronal signaling pathways in a selective manner and that dissecting the molecular events caused by each oligomer may inform more effective therapeutic strategies. |
