New Link Between Down Syndrome And Alzheimer's Disease

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Cholesterol
Article Date: 03 May 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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Scientists have shown that a protein involved in cholesterol metabolism may cause the accelerated onset of Alzheimer's Disease in individuals affected with Down Syndrome.

People with Down Syndrome -- a genetic disorder due to the presence of an extra chromosome 21 -- develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) earlier (mid- to late 30s) than the general population (mid- to late 70s). To understand why, scientists have studied genes from chromosome 21 that are also involved in AD. One of those genes has already been found: It produces a protein called amyloid precursor protein (APP) that helps create protein clusters that are the hallmark of AD.

Cheryl L. Wellington and colleagues have found another gene on chromosome 21 that produces a protein that regulates the amount of cholesterol present in a cell. The scientists showed that this protein influences the distribution and processing of APP and that it is present at high levels in the brains of Down Syndrome individuals. The new discovery may provide new ways to halt AD symptoms early in these individuals.

Article:
The cholesterol transporter ABCG1 modulates the subcellular distribution and proteolytic processing of beta-amyloid precursor protein
Gavin H. Tansley, Braydon L. Burgess, Matt T. Bryan, Yuan Su, Veronica Hirsch-Reinshagen, Jonathan Pearce, Jeniffer Y Chan, Anna Wilkinson, Jeanette Evans, Kathryn E. Naus, Sean McIsaac, Kelley Bromley, Weihong Song, Hsui-Chiung Yang, Nan Wang, Ronald B. DeMattos, and Cheryl L. Wellington

Published in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Lipid Research (Vol. 48, No. 5)

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is a nonprofit scientific and educational organization with over 11,900 members in the United States and internationally. Most members teach and conduct research at colleges and universities. Others conduct research in various government laboratories, nonprofit research institutions and industry. The Society's student members attend undergraduate or graduate institutions.

Founded in 1906, the Society is based in Bethesda, Maryland, on the campus of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. The Society's purpose is to advance the science of biochemistry and molecular biology through publication of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the Journal of Lipid Research, and Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, organization of scientific meetings, advocacy for funding of basic research and education, support of science education at all levels, and promoting the diversity of individuals entering the scientific work force.

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