In vivo characterization of endothelial cell activation in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Angiogenesis - Tập 9 - Trang 59-65 - 2006
Caroline Schultheiss1, Birgit Blechert1, Florian C. Gaertner1, Enken Drecoll1, Jan Mueller1, Georg F. Weber2, Alexander Drzezga1, Markus Essler1,3
1Nuklearmedizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
2Chirurgische Klinik, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
3Nuklearmedizinische Klinik, Technische Universität München, München, Germany

Tóm tắt

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia worldwide. AD is characterized by an excessive cerebral amyloid deposition leading to degeneration of neurons and eventually to dementia. It has been shown by epidemiological studies that cardiovascular drugs with an anti-angiogenic effect can influence the outcome of AD patients. Therefore, it has been speculated that in AD angiogenesis in the brain vasculature may play an important role. Here we report that in the brain of APP23 mice – a transgenic model of AD – after deposition of amyloid in blood vessels endothelial cell activation occurs in an age-dependent manner. Amyloid deposition is followed by the expression of β3-integrin, a specific marker molecule of activated endothelium. The β3-integrin expression is restricted to amyloid-positive vessels. Moreover, homogenates of the brains of APP23 mice induced the formation of new vessels in an in vivo angiogenesis assay. Vessel formation could be blocked by the VEGF antagonist SU 4312 as well as by statins, suggesting that these drugs may interfere with endothelial cell activation in AD. In conclusion our results indicate that amyloid deposition in the vasculature leads to endothelial cell apoptosis and endothelial cell activation, which can be modulated by anti-angiogenic drugs.

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