PROMINENT EXPRESSION OF PRESENILIN-1 IN SENILE PLAQUES AND REACTIVE ASTROCYTES IN ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE BRAIN

MUTATIONS in the presenilin 1 (PS-1) gene account for most cases of au tosomal dominant early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). In ord er to elucidate the cellular expression profile of PS-1 we used a nove l N-terminal monoclonal antibody against human PS-1. Immunohistochemic al staining was observed strongly in senile plaques, and reactive astr ocytes of gray and white matter. Neuronal immunoreactivity, however, w as found to be only moderate. RT-PCR analysis of PS-1 mRNA revealed ex pression throughout human development as well as in human glioma cell lines. Altered PS-1 function may contribute to plaque formation in AD. (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.