The stress response neuropeptide CRF increases amyloid-β production by regulating γ-secretase activity

Hyo Jin Park, Yong Ran, Joo In Jung, Oliver Holmes, Ashleigh R. Price, Lisa Smithson, Carolina Ceballos-Diaz, Chul Han, Michael S. Wolfe, Yehia Daaka, Andrey E. Ryabinin, Seong Hun Kim, Richard L. Hauger, Todd E. Golde, Kevin M. Felsenstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

43 Scopus citations

Abstract

The biological underpinnings linking stress to Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk are poorly understood. We investigated how corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), a critical stress response mediator, influences amyloid-β (Aβ) production. In cells, CRF treatment increases Aβ production and triggers CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and γ-secretase internalization. Co-immunoprecipitation studies establish that γ-secretase associates with CRFR1; this is mediated by β-arrestin binding motifs. Additionally, CRFR1 and γ-secretase co-localize in lipid raft fractions, with increased γ-secretase accumulation upon CRF treatment. CRF treatment also increases γ-secretase activity in vitro, revealing a second, receptor-independent mechanism of action. CRF is the first endogenous neuropeptide that can be shown to directly modulate γ-secretase activity. Unexpectedly, CRFR1 antagonists also increased Aβ. These data collectively link CRF to increased Aβ through γ-secretase and provide mechanistic insight into how stress may increase AD risk. They also suggest that direct targeting of CRF might be necessary to effectively modulate this pathway for therapeutic benefit in AD, as CRFR1 antagonists increase Aβ and in some cases preferentially increase Aβ42 via complex effects on γ-secretase.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1674-1686
Number of pages13
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume34
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 12 2015

Keywords

  • Amyloid-β
  • Corticotrophin releasing factor
  • Stress
  • β-arrestin
  • γ-secretase

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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