Down-regulation amyloid β-protein 42 production by interfer- ing with transcript of presenilin 1 gene with siRNA1

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of Aβ42 yielding and new drug targets as well as the possibility of RNA interference (RNAi) technique for treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Human AD presenilin 1 (PS1) cDNA sequence was obtained from NCBI website. The three sites of RNAi action and one missense control site were selected in PS1 cDNA through online design of Ambion company. To confirm specificity of these sites, we conducted a BLAST search of the IMAGE EST library. The corresponding double-stranded DNA was used to construct pSilencer 3.1-H1 plasmid, which could transcribe small interference RNA (siRNA). Then, the pSliencer 3.1-H1 plasmids were transfected into CHO/PS1/APP cells with SuperFect transfection reagent. The cells have been transfected with the mutant PS1 and APP gene of AD. All the CHO/PS1/APP cells with pSliencer 3.1-H1 plasmids were screened out using G418. Transcripts of PS1 gene in CHO/PS1/APP were measured by RT-PCR, the contents of PS1 peptide and Aβ42 production inside CHO/PS1/APP cells were examined through Western blot and the Aβ42 change of secretion by CHO/PS1/APP was determined with ELISA. RESULTS: The site 3 of PS1 mRNA was inhibited by RNAi after 2 d. The effect was more obvious with the time. The peptide corresponding to PS1 gene and Aβ42 production in CHO/PS1/APP cells were both reduced after siRNA interfere for 3 d. Aβ42 secretion by CHO/PS1/APP cells began to reduce on d 3, and reached the most significance on d 5. There was a time-dependent relationship between the transcript of PS1 gene and the production of Aβ42 with RNAi action. CONCLUSION: PS1 is essential for γ-secretase activity. Inhibition of the PS1 can decrease the levels of Aβ42. Some sites of PS1 mRNA, for example, the site 3, may serve as a new drug target and RNAi probably can be used for treatment of AD.