Dissociation of Akt/PKB and ribosomal S6 kinase signaling markers in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Previous studies demonstrated that the PKR (double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase) pathway was activated while the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway was inhibited in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we analysed upstream and downstream factors of mTOR in brain of APPSL/PS1 KI mice displaying a massive neuronal loss in hippocampus. While mTOR levels were not modified, we found a great activation of Akt with a robust accumulation of P-Akt(T308) in non-apoptotic neurons at 6 months of age. At the opposite, a significant decrease of the p70/85S6K activation was observed in brain of PS1 KI and APPSL/PS1 KI mice with a very weak or no nucleocytoplasmic P-p70/85S6K(T389) staining in apoptotic neurons of APPSL/PS1 KI mice. Furthermore, the activation of Erk1/2, 4E-BP1 and p70S6K(T421/S424) (substrate of Erk1/2), except eIF4E, was not modified. These findings demonstrate a clear dissociation between Akt and ribosomal S6K signaling markers in these mice which could be involved in the AD pathological process.