TFEB-mediated enhancement of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway dually modulates the process of amyloid β-protein generation in neurons

Publication date: Available online 21 January 2019Source: NeuroscienceAuthor(s): Fumiko Yamamoto, Kaori Taniguchi, Naomi Mamada, Akira Tamaoka, Fuyuki Kametani, Madepalli K. Lakshmana, Wataru ArakiAbstractAbnormalities of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) have been implicated in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Activation of TFEB (transcription factor EB), a master regulator of the ALP, leads to ALP facilitation. The present study sought to clarify whether TFEB-mediated ALP facilitation influences the process of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) generation in neurons. TFEB was overexpressed in mature rat primary cortical neurons via recombinant adenoviruses, without (basal conditions) or with co-overexpression of wild-type amyloid precursor protein (APP) or its β-C-terminal fragment (β-CTF). We confirmed that TFEB overexpression upregulated the lysosomal proteins, cathepsin D and LAMP-1. In TFEB-expressing neurons, protein levels of ADAM10 were profoundly increased, whereas those of APP, BACE1, or γ-secretase complex proteins were unaffected. However, TFEB did not affect ADAM10 mRNA levels. TFEB overexpression had different effects on Aβ production depending on the expression level of APP or β-CTF: TFEB slightly decreased Aβ secretion under basal conditions; clearly increased α-CTF levels and marginally increased β-CTF levels with modest increases in secreted Aβ in APP-expressing neurons; and caused a remarkable increase in β-CTF levels with a significant inc...

Source: Neuroscience - January 21, 2019 Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research