Prion protein and Alzheimer disease

Abstract

Alzheimer and prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders characterised by the abnormal processing of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and prion protein (PrPC), respectively. Recent evidence indicates that PrPC may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. PrP C interacts with and inhibits the β-secretase BACE1, the rate-limiting enzyme in the production of Aβ. More recently PrPC was identified as a receptor for Aβ oligomers and the expression of PrPC appears to be controlled by the amyloid intracellular domain (AICD). Here we review these observations and propose a feedback loop in the normal brain where PrPC exerts an inhibitory effect on BACE1 to decrease both Aβ and AICD production. In turn, the AICD upregulates PrPC expression, thus maintaining the inhibitory effect of PrP C on BACE1. In Alzheimer disease, this feedback loop is disrupted, and the increased level of Aβ oligomers bind to PrPC and prevent it from regulating BACE1 activity. © 2009 Landes Bioscience.