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Figure 5 | BMC Neurology

Figure 5

From: Non-neuronal and neuronal BACE1 elevation in association with angiopathic and leptomeningeal β-amyloid deposition in the human brain

Figure 5

Characterization of the expression of amyloidogenic proteins in vascular biopsy and primary vascular cell culture. Panels (A-E) show the expression of the β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) and BACE1 in leptomeningeal biopsy containing a middle-sized and several small arteries (arrow), and capillaries. The endothelial cells (E→) expressed specific APP and BACE1 immunoreactivity (B,C), which can be eliminated by excluding the primary antibodies (1st AB) in immunofluorescent processing (D,E). Autofluorescence exists in the inner elastic lamina (IEL), tunica media (TM) and external elastic lamina (EEL) (refer to the H.E. stained inset in A). Panel (F) shows immunoblot characterization of the amyloidogenic proteins in extracts of isolated leptomeningeal arteries, peripheral arteries and veins, with cortical extract (from a control case) used as assay control (50 μg protein loading in each lane). APP, BACE1, presenilin-1 N-terminal fragments (PS1-NTF) and APP β-cleavage products are present in the vascular homogenates. Note that the vascular APP migrates at a higher molecular weight position relative to the brain counterpart. The vascular samples contain minimal amount of β-tubulin relative to cortical lysate. Panels (G-L) illustrate immunocytochemical labeling of APP, BACE1 and PS1-NTF in cultured vascular cells expressing CD31, a marker for vascular endothelia. A large cellular profile (appeared as fused cells) is labeled with the smooth muscle cell marker, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), but exhibits little BACE1 immunoreactivity (M,N). Scale bar = 500 μm in (A) applying to (B,C); equal to 250 μm for (H-I) and 50 μm for (E-G).

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