Low-density lipoprotein receptor overexpression enhances the rate of brain-to-blood Aβ clearance in a mouse model of β-amyloidosis

Joseph M. Castellano, Rashid Deane, Andrew J. Gottesdiener, Philip B. Verghese, Floy R. Stewart, Tim West, Andrew C. Paoletti, Tristan R. Kasper, Ronald B. DeMattos, Berislav V. Zlokovic, David M. Holtzman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

144 Scopus citations

Abstract

The apolipoprotein E (APOE)-ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset, sporadic Alzheimer's disease, likely increasing risk by altering amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulation. We recently demonstrated that the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) is a major apoE receptor in the brain that strongly regulates amyloid plaque deposition. In the current study, we sought to understand the mechanism by which LDLR regulates Aβ accumulation by altering Aβ clearance from brain interstitial fluid. We hypothesized that increasing LDLR levels enhances blood-brain barrier-mediated Aβ clearance, thus leading to reduced Aβ accumulation. Using the brain Aβ efflux index method, we found that blood-brain barrier-mediated clearance of exogenously administered Aβ is enhanced with LDLR overexpression. We next developed a method to directly assess the elimination of centrally derived, endogenous Aβ into the plasma of mice using an anti-Aβ antibody that prevents degradation of plasma Aβ, allowing its rate of appearance from the brain to be measured. Using this plasma Aβ accumulation technique, we found that LDLR overexpression enhances brain-to-blood Aβ transport. Together, our results suggest a unique mechanism by which LDLR regulates brain-to-blood Aβ clearance, which may serve as a useful therapeutic avenue in targeting Aβ clearance from the brain.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)15502-15507
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume109
Issue number38
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 18 2012

Keywords

  • Dementia
  • In vivo microdialysis
  • Low-density lipoprotein-related protein 1
  • Peripheral
  • Sequestration

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