Increased clusterin expression in old but not young adult S100B transgenic mice: evidence of neuropathological aging in a model of Down Syndrome

LA Shapiro, A Marks, PM Whitaker-Azmitia - Brain research, 2004 - Elsevier
Brain research, 2004Elsevier
S100B is a calcium-binding protein, localized to astroglial cells, which has a variety of
neurotrophic functions, including roles in serotonergic neuronal growth, synaptogenesis
dendritic branching and apoptosis. In humans, the gene for S100B is found on chromosome
21, within what is considered the obligate region for Down Syndrome (DS) and levels of
S100B are increased in brain of both DS and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We have been
characterizing a transgenic mouse overexpressing this protein and have previously found …
S100B is a calcium-binding protein, localized to astroglial cells, which has a variety of neurotrophic functions, including roles in serotonergic neuronal growth, synaptogenesis dendritic branching and apoptosis. In humans, the gene for S100B is found on chromosome 21, within what is considered the obligate region for Down Syndrome (DS) and levels of S100B are increased in brain of both DS and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). We have been characterizing a transgenic mouse overexpressing this protein and have previously found evidence of pathological changes in brains of the mice. In the current study, we have examined the expression of clusterin, a protein expressed in aging neurons, in the mice at two ages. Our findings show increased clusterin expression in the aged S100B mice compared to their CD-1 controls, a finding we have interpreted as further evidence of pathological brain aging.
Elsevier