Endothelin-converting enzyme-2 is increased in Alzheimer's disease and up-regulated by Abeta.

ABSTRACT: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to be caused by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptide within the brain. Endothelin-converting enzyme-2 (ECE-2), which is expressed in neural tissues, cleaves 'big endothelin' to produce the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1. ECE-2 also degrades Abeta. We have examined ECE-2 expression in the temporal cortex of brain tissue from patients with AD, vascular dementia, and controls. Immunohistochemistry with specific antibodies showed ECE-2 to be abundant within pyramidal neurons in both the hippocampus and neocortex, but also to be present in certain astrocytes and microglia, particularly in AD brains. Quantitative real-time PCR showed ECE-2 mRNA to be markedly elevated in AD but not in vascular dementia. ECE-2 protein concentration, measured by sandwi

SUBMITTER: Palmer JC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2708812 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature