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Differential Processing of Amyloid-β Precursor Protein Directs Human Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation into Neuronal Precursor Cells
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Differential Processing of Amyloid-β Precursor Protein Directs Human Embryonic Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation into Neuronal Precursor Cells

Prashob Porayette, Miguel J. Gallego, Maria M. Kaltcheva, Richard L. Bowen, Sivan Vadakkadath Meethal and Craig S. Atwood
The Journal of biological chemistry, Vol.284(35), pp.23806-23817
06/19/2009
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M109.026328
PMCID: PMC2749153
PMID: 19542221
url
https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M109.026328View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The amyloid-β precursor protein (AβPP) is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein whose cleavage product, the amyloid-β (Aβ) protein, is deposited in amyloid plaques in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer disease, Down syndrome, and head injury. We recently reported that this protein, normally associated with neurodegenerative conditions, is expressed by human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). We now report that the differential processing of AβPP via secretase enzymes regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hESCs. hESCs endogenously produce amyloid-β, which when added exogenously in soluble and fibrillar forms but not oligomeric forms markedly increased hESC proliferation. The inhibition of AβPP cleavage by β-secretase inhibitors significantly suppressed hESC proliferation and promoted nestin expression, an early marker of neural precursor cell (NPC) formation. The induction of NPC differentiation via the non-amyloidogenic pathway was confirmed by the addition of secreted AβPPα, which suppressed hESC proliferation and promoted the formation of NPCs. Together these data suggest that differential processing of AβPP is normally required for embryonic neurogenesis.
Molecular Basis of Cell and Developmental Biology

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