Abstract
β-arrestins are associated with numerous aspects of G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling and regulation and accordingly influence diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes. Here we report that β-arrestin 2 expression is elevated in two independent cohorts of individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Overexpression of β-arrestin 2 leads to an increase in amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide generation, whereas genetic silencing of Arrb2 (encoding β-arrestin 2) reduces generation of Aβ in cell cultures and in Arrb2−/− mice. Moreover, in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, genetic deletion of Arrb2 leads to a reduction in the production of Aβ40 and Aβ42. Two GPCRs implicated previously in Alzheimer's disease (GPR3 and the β2-adrenergic receptor) mediate their effects on Aβ generation through interaction with β-arrestin 2. β-arrestin 2 physically associates with the Aph-1a subunit of the γ-secretase complex and redistributes the complex toward detergent-resistant membranes, increasing the catalytic activity of the complex. Collectively, these studies identify β-arrestin 2 as a new therapeutic target for reducing amyloid pathology and GPCR dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to R.J. Lefkowitz and S. Ahn (Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA) for the generous gift of the β-arrestin 2 wild-type and knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts, the Arrb1−/− and Arrb2−/− mice, the β-arrestin 2–GFP-Flag cDNA and helpful discussion. We thank M. Jucker (University of Tübingen, Germany) for the gift of APP/PS1 transgenic mice. We greatly appreciate the kind gift of human control and Alzheimer's disease brain samples from K. Bossers and D.F. Swaab (Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) and C. Troakes (the London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, London, UK). We thank M. Mercken (Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium) for the antibodies to Aβ. We are grateful to Y. Li (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA) for the kind initial gift of JC-8. This work was supported by a Mentored New Investigator Research grant from the Alzheimer's Association to A.T., the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders, KU Leuven, a Methusalem grant from the KU Leuven and the Flemish government, and the Foundation for Alzheimer Research (SAO/FRMA) to B.D.S. B.D.S. is the Arthur Bax and Anna Vanluffelen chair for Alzheimer's disease.
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A.T. and B.D.S. designed the experiments and wrote the manuscript. A.T., K.H., A.S., E.V. and Y.H. conducted the experiments. M.C. conducted the qPCR experiments. G.D.K. synthesized JC-8. S.M. conducted the immunofluorescence image analysis.
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B.D.S. receives research funding from and is a consultant for Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium, Envivo, and Remynd, Leuven, Belgium. A.T. and B.D.S. are inventors on a patent that links β-arrestin to GPR3 and the γ-secretase complex, which is owned by VIB.
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Thathiah, A., Horré, K., Snellinx, A. et al. β-arrestin 2 regulates Aβ generation and γ-secretase activity in Alzheimer's disease. Nat Med 19, 43–49 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3023
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