Beta Amyloid Peptide: Research Paper : Amyloid-β peptides slightly affect lifespan or antimicrobial peptide gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Amyloid-β peptides slightly affect lifespan or antimicrobial peptide gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Background: Beta-amyloid peptide (Aβ) is the key protein in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder in humans. Aβ peptide induced pathological phenotypes in different model organisms include neurodegeneration and lifespan decrease. However, recent experimental evidence suggests that Aβ may utilize oligomerization and fibrillization to function as an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), and protect the host from infections. We used the power of Drosophila model to study mechanisms underlying a dual role for Aβ peptides.

Results: We investigated the effects of Drosophila treatment with three Aβ42 peptide isoforms, which differ in their ability to form oligomers and aggregates on the lifespan, locomotor activity and AMP genes expression. Aβ42 slightly decreased female's median lifespan (by 4.5%), but the effect was not related to the toxicity of peptide isoform. The lifespan and relative levels of AMP gene expression in male flies as well as locomotor activity in both sexes were largely unaffected by Aβ42 peptide treatment. Regardless of the effects on lifespan, Aβ42 peptide treatment induced decrease in AMP genes expression in females, but the effects were not robust.

Conclusions: The results demonstrate that chronic treatment with Aβ42 peptides does not drastically affect fly aging or immunity.

Keywords: Aging; Amyloid-β peptides; Antimicrobial peptides; Drosophila melanogaster; Lifespan; Peroxiredoxin 5; Transcription factor FOXO.

Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no competing interests.

This article originally appeared in the "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33092519/" and has their copyrights. We do not claim copyright on the content. This information is for research purposes only. This Blog is made available by publishers for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding , not to provide specific advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no client relationship between you and the Blog publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent research advice.