Developmental and aging changes in the expression patterns of beta-amyloid in the brains of normal and Down syndrome cases

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Immunohistochemical staining with polyclonal antibodies to synthetic amyloid (residues 1-28 of A4) was performed on normal and Down syndrome brains from fetuses to adults. Positive staining appeared in the cytoplasmic processes of astrocytes in the subpial layer and white matter of developing brains, and reappeared in astrocytic fibers of the subpial layer as well as in cerebrovascular and plaque core amyloid in elderly brains. The reappearance of positively stained astrocytes and amyloid occurred earlier in adult Down syndrome patients. The results indicate that the A4 protein is a developmental protein, and its reappearance in Alzheimer and adult Down syndrome brains may be related to the regeneration process.

Key findings

• The results indicate that the A4 protein is a developmental protein, and its reappearance in Alzheimer and adult Down syndrome brains may be related to the regeneration process.

Why it matters

This brain tissue study found that amyloid protein appears in developing brains and reappears in elderly brains, including in people with Down syndrome at an earlier age. The authors suggest this reappearance may relate to a regeneration process, but the study does not test any treatment.

Study details

• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1016/s0387-7604(12)80066-0
• PubMed: 2146899
• Original source →

May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.

@article{takashima1990-2146899,
  author  = {Takashima, S. and Kuruta, H. and Mito, T. and Nishizawa, M. and Kunishita, T. and Tabira, T.},
  title   = {{Developmental and aging changes in the expression patterns of beta-amyloid in the brains of normal and Down syndrome cases}},
  journal = {Brain \& development},
  year    = {1990},
  doi     = {10.1016/s0387-7604(12)80066-0},
  pmid    = {2146899},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0387-7604(12)80066-0}
}

Studies this one cites

Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.

• The precursor of Alzheimer's disease amyloid A4 protein resembles a cell-surface receptor Nature · 1987-02-01 · usefulness score 58/100 · Disease mechanisms
• Amyloid beta protein gene: cDNA, mRNA distribution, and genetic linkage near the Alzheimer locus Science (New York, N.Y.) · 1987-02-01 · usefulness score 57/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Amyloid plaque core protein in Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 1985-06-01 · usefulness score 56/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Reexpression of a developmentally regulated antigen in Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 1988-08-01 · usefulness score 41/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Later studies that cite this one

3 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.

• Differential processing of amyloid-beta precursor protein directs human embryonic stem cell proliferation and differentiation into neuronal precursor cells The Journal of biological chemistry · 2009-06-19 · usefulness score 42/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Protein expression of BACE1, BACE2 and APP in Down syndrome brains Amino acids · 2007-12-29 · usefulness score 42/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Characteristic developmental expression of amyloid beta40, 42 and 43 in patients with Down syndrome Brain & development · 2003-04-01 · usefulness score 36/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Related studies in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

• Chronic elevation of S100 beta protein does not alter APP mRNA expression or promote beta-amyloid deposition in the brains of aging transgenic mice Brain research · 1995-12-01 · usefulness score 33/100
• Developmental immunohistochemistry of growth inhibitory factor in normal brains and brains of patients with Down syndrome Pediatric neurology · 1997-09-01 · usefulness score 35/100
• Elevated expression of beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 2 in brains of patients with Down syndrome Neuroscience letters · 2002-06-01 · usefulness score 38/100
• The effects of normal aging on amyloid-β deposition in nondemented adults with Down syndrome as imaged by carbon 11-labeled Pittsburgh compound B Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2015-06-13 · usefulness score 45/100
• Beta amyloid gene duplication in Alzheimer's disease and karyotypically normal Down syndrome Science (New York, N.Y.) · 1987-03-01 · usefulness score 41/100
• Quantification of modified amyloid beta peptides in Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome brains Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology · 1998-11-01 · usefulness score 40/100

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