Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder of the brain, characterized by extracellular beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques, intracellular tau pathology, neurodegeneration and inflammation. There is clear evidence that the blood-brain barrier is damaged in AD and that vessel function is impaired. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) is a prominent protein expressed on brain vessels, especially in cells located closer to the arteriole end of the capillaries, which possibly influences the blood vessel contraction. The aim of the present study was to observe αSMA protein and mRNA expression in isolated brain vessel extracts and cortex in an Alzheimer mouse model with strong Aβ plaque deposition. Our data revealed a prominent expression of αSMA protein in isolated brain vessel extracts of AD mice by Western blot analysis. Immunostaining showed that these vessels were associated with Aβ plaques. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis confirmed this increase at the mRNA expression level and showed a significant increase of transforming growth factor beta-1 mRNA expression in AD mice. In situ hybridization demonstrated a strong expression pattern of αSMA mRNA in the whole cortex and hippocampus. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that αSMA protein and mRNA are enhanced in vessels in an AD mouse model, possibly counteracting vessel malfunction in AD.