Sorting nexin-4 regulates β-amyloid production by modulating β-site-activating cleavage enzyme-1.

Background: Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved by β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) to produce β-amyloid (Aβ), a critical pathogenic peptide in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ generation can be affected by the intracellular trafficking of APP or its related secretases, which is thus important to understanding its pathological alterations. Although sorting nexin (SNX) family proteins regulate this trafficking, the relevance and role of sorting nexin-4 (SNX4) regarding AD has not been studied yet.

β-Amyloid is transmitted via neuronal connections along axonal membranes.

Objective: β-amyloid plaque is a critical pathological feature of Alzheimer disease. Pathologic studies suggest that neurodegeneration may occur in a retrograde fashion from axon terminals near β-amyloid plaques, and that plaque may spread through brain regions. However, there is no direct experimental evidence to show transmission of β-amyloid.