ANTIBODIES TO PRESENILIN PROTEINS DETECT NEUROFIBRILLARY TANGLES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE

Mutations in the presenilin (PS)-1 and PS-2 genes have been shown to b e linked with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined Alzheimer's brain tissue by immunohistochemistry using a set of antib odies raised to sequences shared between PS-1 and PS-2 proteks. These antibodies reacted exclusively with a subset of neurofibrillary tangle s and not with neuropil threads or dystrophic neurites. Detection of t he presenilin epitope in neurofibrillary tangles was observed in spora dic Alzheimer's disease brain samples and in samples from individuals carrying PS-1 and PS-2 mutations with no qualitative difference These data indicate that both wild-type and mutant PS proteins are involved in a common pathogenic pathway in AD.