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Analysis of β-Amyloid-induced Abnormalities on Fibrin Clot Structure by Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy
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Methamphetamine exposure induces neuropathic protein β-Amyloid expression

Lingling Chen1, Pengfei Yu2, Li Zhang1

  • 1Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 72 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China; Key Lab of Modern Toxicology (NJMU), Ministry of Education, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China.

Toxicology in Vitro : an International Journal Published in Association with BIBRA
|October 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Methamphetamine (METH) use increases Alzheimer

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Toxicology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Methamphetamine (METH) abuse is linked to Parkinson's disease-like neurodegeneration.
  • Emerging evidence suggests METH exposure may also induce Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like changes.
  • The precise mechanisms underlying METH's association with AD pathology are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if METH exposure promotes the formation of amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42), a key pathological protein in AD.
  • To explore the molecular pathways involved in METH-induced Aβ42 production.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the PC-12 cell line as a cellular model for METH exposure.
  • Quantified levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its C-terminal fragments (CTFs) using dose-dependent METH treatment.
  • Measured Aβ1-42 levels in cell culture supernatant via ELISA assay.
  • Assessed the expression and activity of p-GSK3α and BACE-1, key enzymes in APP processing and Aβ generation.
  • Visualized BACE-1 expression using immunofluorescence.

Main Results:

  • METH treatment significantly increased APP and CTFs expression in a dose-dependent manner.
  • METH exposure led to a marked elevation of Aβ1-42 in the cell culture supernatant.
  • METH activated p-GSK3α and increased the expression of BACE-1.
  • Immunofluorescence confirmed a significant elevation in BACE-1 fluorescence intensity.

Conclusions:

  • METH treatment promotes the expression of APP, CTFs, and Aβ1-42.
  • The molecular players p-GSK3α and BACE-1 are implicated in METH-induced Aβ production.
  • These findings suggest a potential link between METH abuse and Alzheimer's disease-like pathology.
Keywords:
APPAlzheimer's diseaseBACE1METH

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