RNA interference in silencing of genes of Alzheimer's disease in cellular and rat brain models

Abstract

Accumulation of insoluble aggregates of beta-amyloid peptide, a cleavage product of amyloid precursor protein, is thought to be a central step in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The major enzymes required for the generation of toxic amyloid-beta peptide are beta-(BACE1) and gamma-secretases. Here, we present the rational design and the application of synthetic and lentivirus vector-encoded siRNAs for specific and efficient knockdown of overexpressed and endogenous BACE1, both in dividing and neural stem cells and in a rat brain. We also tested an approach to anti-amyloid therapy by the use of the allele-specific siRNAs to silence the mutant presenilin 1 (L392V PS-1), the main component of gamma-secretase, responsible for development of Familial Alzheimer's disease. Reducing the level of beta-amyloid accumulation in the brain could be beneficial for metabolic studies as well as potential therapeutic approach for prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.