Intracellular copper deficiency increases amyloid-β secretion by diverse mechanisms

Abstract

In Alzheimer's disease there is abnormal brain copper distribution, with accumulation of copper in amyloid plaques and a deficiency of copper in neighbouring cells. Excess copper inhibits Aβ (amyloid β-peptide) production, but the effects of deficiency have not yet been determined. We therefore studied the effects of modulating intracellular copper levels on the processing of APP (amyloid precursor protein) and the production of Aβ. Human fibroblasts genetically disposed to copper accumulation secreted higher levels of sAPP (soluble APP ectodomain)α into their medium, whereas fibroblasts genetically manipulated to be profoundly copper deficient secreted predominantly sAPPβ and produced more ..