| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Short Communications |
From the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology and Rutgers/University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Integrative Neurosciences Program, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey
Early-onset cataract and Alzheimer’s disease occur with high frequency in Down syndrome (trisomy 21), the most common chromosome duplication in human live births. Previously, we used in vivo and lens organ culture models to demonstrate Alzheimer pathophysiology in oxidative stress-related lens degeneration. Currently, well-characterized Alzheimer transgenic mouse models are used to extend these findings. Here, we report on mice carrying a complete copy of a wild-type human AßPP (hAßPP) gene from the Down syndrome critical region on chromosome 21. hAßPP mice produce fiber cell membrane defects similar to those described in human cataracts and increased age-related lens degeneration. hAßPP expression and mRNA alternative splicing in human and mouse lens and cornea favor longer, potentially more amyloidogenic forms. Endogenous mouse AßPP expression is increased in transgenic lenses, consistent with the cycle of oxidative stress proposed in the mechanism of Alzheimer pathophysiology. Alternative splicing previously designated as neuron-specific occurs in human lens and cornea, and is maintained by hAßPP expressed in mouse tissues. These present data implicate AßPP in fiber cell formation and in early-onset cataracts in Down syndrome. Finally, our findings provide further support for our hypothesis that Alzheimer pathophysiology contributes to the cataract formation that is increasing in the aging population.
Related articles in Am J Pathol:
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
