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Characterization of a mouse model overexpressing beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 reveals a new role for BACE2
Azkona G, Amador-Arjona A, Obradors-Tarragó C, Varea E, Arqué G, Pinacho R, Fillat C, de la Luna S et al.. Genes, brain, and behavior, 2009-09-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
BACE2 is homologous to BACE1, a beta-secretase that is involved in the amyloidogenic pathway of amyloid precursor protein (APP), and maps to the Down syndrome critical region of chromosome 21. Alzheimer disease neuropathology is common in Down syndrome patients at relatively early ages, and it has thus been speculated that BACE2 co-overexpression with APP would promote the early neurodegenerative phenotype. However, the in vivo function of BACE2 has not yet been elucidated. The aim of the present work has been to analyse the impact of in vivo BACE2 overexpression using a transgenic mouse model. Our results suggest that BACE2 is not involved in the amyloidogenic pathway, cognitive dysfunction or cholinergic degeneration. However, TgBACE2 animals showed increased anxiety-like behaviour along with increased numbers of noradrenergic neurones in locus coeruleus, thus suggesting an unexpected role of BACE2 overexpression.
Key findings
- Our results suggest that BACE2 is not involved in the amyloidogenic pathway, cognitive dysfunction or cholinergic degeneration.
Why it matters
In a transgenic mouse model, BACE2 overexpression was not involved in the amyloidogenic pathway, cognitive dysfunction, or cholinergic degeneration, though the mice showed increased anxiety-like behaviour. These are animal results and do not support BACE2 as a target for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 34/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Genes, brain, and behavior) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Genes Brain & Behavior: journal h-index 122 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “mouse”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Mara Dierssen: h-index 61 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats: institution h-index 596 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19840121) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 34 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00538.x
- PubMed: 19840121
- Original source →
- Free full text: Communities in ADDI (University of the Basque Country) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Azkona, G., Amador-Arjona, A., Obradors-Tarragó, C., Varea, E., Arqué, G., Pinacho, R., et al. (2010). Characterization of a mouse model overexpressing beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 reveals a new role for BACE2. Genes, brain, and behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00538.x
Vancouver
Azkona G, Amador-Arjona A, Obradors-Tarragó C, Varea E, Arqué G, Pinacho R, et al. Characterization of a mouse model overexpressing beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 reveals a new role for BACE2. Genes, brain, and behavior. 2010. doi:10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00538.x. PMID: 19840121.
BibTeX
@article{azkona2010-19840121,
author = {Azkona, G. and Amador-Arjona, A. and Obradors-Tarragó, C. and Varea, E. and Arqué, G. and Pinacho, R. and Fillat, C. and de la Luna, S. and others},
title = {{Characterization of a mouse model overexpressing beta-site APP-cleaving enzyme 2 reveals a new role for BACE2}},
journal = {Genes, brain, and behavior},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00538.x},
pmid = {19840121},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1601-183x.2009.00538.x}
}
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