Anti-ATP Synthase Autoantibodies Induce Neuronal Death by Apoptosis and Impair Cognitive Performance in C57BL/6J Mice

Article type: Short Communication

Authors: Berry, Alessandra^{a; 1} | Vacirca, Davide^{a; 1} | Capoccia, Sara^a | Bellisario, Veronica^a | Malorni, Walter^{b; c} | Ortona, Elena^{a; b; 2; *} | Cirulli, Francesca^{a; 2}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy | [b] San Raffaele Institute Sulmona, Sulmona (AQ), Italy | [c] Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Dr. Elena Ortona, Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. Tel.: +39 0649902573; Fax: +39 0649902040; E-mail: elena.ortona@iss.it.

Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.

Note: [2] Both considered as senior authors.

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested a pathogenetic role of autoantibodies (Abs) against ATP synthase (ATPs) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using a mouse model, we found that intracerebroventricular administration of anti-ATPs-Abs, purified from AD patients, leads to poor cognitive performance and pronounced cell damage in the hippocampus, a brain region specifically involved in learning and memory processes, which is severely affected in AD. Our results are suggestive of a role of anti-ATPs-Abs in the onset and progression of AD and also provide a fruitful model for the study of memory disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, apoptosis, ATP synthase, autoantibodies, maze learning, memory, mice

DOI: 10.3233/JAD-2012-121312

Journal: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 317-321, 2013