Signal peptide peptidase-like 2b modulates the amyloidogenic pathway and exhibits an Aβ-dependent expression in Alzheimer's disease

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Riccardo Maccioni - , Karolinska Institutet, Scripps Research Institute (Author)
  • Caterina Travisan - , Karolinska Institutet, KU Leuven (Author)
  • Jack Badman - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Stefania Zerial - , Karolinska Institutet, University of Trieste (Author)
  • Annika Wagener - , Karolinska Institutet, Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Yuniesky Andrade-Talavera - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Federico Picciau - , Karolinska Institutet, University of Cagliari (Author)
  • Caterina Grassi - , Karolinska Institutet, University of Bologna (Author)
  • Gefei Chen - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Laetitia Lemoine - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • André Fisahn - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Richeng Jiang - , Karolinska Institutet, Jilin University (Author)
  • Regina Fluhrer - , Augsburg University (Author)
  • Torben Mentrup - , Institute of Physiological Chemistry (Author)
  • Bernd Schröder - , Institute of Physiological Chemistry (Author)
  • Per Nilsson - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)
  • Simone Tambaro - , Karolinska Institutet (Author)

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder driven by abnormal amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) levels. In this study, we investigated the role of presenilin-like signal peptide peptidase-like 2b (SPPL2b) in AD pathophysiology and its potential as a druggable target within the Aβ cascade. Exogenous Aβ42 influenced SPPL2b expression in human cell lines and acute mouse brain slices. SPPL2b and its AD-related substrate BRI2 were evaluated in the brains of AppNL-G-F knock-in AD mice and human postmortem AD brains. An early high cortical expression of SPPL2b was observed, followed by a downregulation in late AD pathology in AppNL-G-F mice, correlating with synaptic loss. To understand the consequences of pathophysiological SPPL2b dysregulation, we found that SPPL2b overexpression significantly increased APP cleavage, while genetic deletion reduced APP cleavage and Aβ production. Notably, postmortem AD brains showed higher levels of SPPL2b's BRI2 substrate compared to healthy control samples. These results strongly support the involvement of SPPL2b in AD pathology. The early Aβ-induced upregulation of SPPL2b may enhance Aβ production in a vicious cycle, further aggravating Aβ pathology. Therefore, SPPL2b emerges as a potential anti-Aβ drug target.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number102585
Number of pages17
JournalProgress in Neurobiology
Volume235(2024)
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85186197748

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease, Amyloid β, AppNL-G-F knock-in mice, BRI2, Microglia, SPPL2b