Interaction between amyloid precursor protein and Nogo receptors regulates amyloid deposition

Excessive production or accumulation of beta-amyloid (A beta) peptides in human brains leads to increased amyloid deposition and cognitive dysfunction, which are invariable pathological features in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many cellular factors can regulate the production of A beta. In this study, we show that a family of proteins named Nogo receptor proteins (NgR1 to NgR3) regulates A beta production via interaction with amyloid precursor protein (APP). Further mapping of the interacting domain indicates that a small region adjacent to the BACE1 cleavage site of APP mediates interaction of APP with Nogo receptor proteins. Our results also indicate that increased interaction between Nogo receptor and APP reduces surface expression of APP and favors processing of APP by BACE1. When NgR2 was ablated in AD transgenic mice expressing Swedish APP and PS1 Delta E9, amyloid deposition was clearly reduced (0.66% of total measured area in APP(swe)/PS1 Delta E9/NgR2(-/-) mice vs. 0.76% of total measured area in APP(swe)/PS1 Delta E9 mice). Our results demonstrate that down-regulation of NgR expression is a potential approach for inhibiting amyloid deposition in AD patients.-Zhou, X., Hu, X., He, W., Tang, X., Shi, Q., Zhang, Z., Yan, R. Interaction between amyloid precursor protein and Nogo receptors regulates amyloid deposition. FASEB J. 25, 3146-3156 (2011). www.fasebj.org