Comparison of Aβ levels in the brain of familial and sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Mutations in presenilin (PS) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) genes are a predominant cause for early-onset familial Alzheimer disease (AD). Although these mutations are rare, they have in the past decades advanced our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of AD. In the present study, Aβ levels were measured in cortical regions of APPsw and PS1 (M146V) mutation carriers, sporadic AD (SAD) and age-matched non-demented individuals. We found similar levels of soluble Aβ42, insoluble and soluble Aβ40 in both APPsw mutation carriers and SAD. However, lower levels of insoluble Aβ42 were detected in the frontal and temporal cortex of APPsw brain. In PS1 brain, insoluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels were significantly lower in all four cortical regions compared with SAD, whilst levels of Aβ40 were lower in frontal and occipital cortex compared with APPsw brain. The insoluble Aβ42/40 ratio was similar in SAD and APPsw but significantly higher in PS1 mutation carriers. Our results indicate that the pattern of Aβ deposition in PS1 mutation carriers differs from that in both APPsw and SAD, whereas the pattern in APPsw mutation carriers is more similar to that in SAD.