Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2005 February; 26 (2): 171-176; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2005.00038.x

Aim: To investigate the mechanism of the action of estrogen, which stimulates the release of secreted amyloid precursor protein α (sAPPα) and decreases the generation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ), a dominant component in senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.

Methods: Experiments were carried out in primary rat cortical neurons, and Western blot was used to detect sAPPα in a culture medium and the total amount of cellular amyloid precursor protein (APP) in neurons.

Results: 17β-Estradiol (but not 17α-estradiol) and β-estradiol 6-(O-carboxymethyl) oxime: BSA increased the secretion of sAPPα and this effect was blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor calphostin C, but not by the classical estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. Meanwhile, 17β-estradiol did not alter the synthesis of cellular APP.

Conclusion: The effect of 17β-estradiol on sAPPα secretion is likely mediated through the membrane binding sites, and needs molecular configuration specificity of the ligand. Furthermore, the action of the PKC-dependent pathway might be involved in estrogen-induced sAPPα secretion.

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; estrogen; amyloid pre-cursor protein; estrogen receptors; protein kinase C