Localization and regulated release of Alzheimer amyloid precursor-like protein in thyrocytes.

BACKGROUND

Dysregulation in the processing of the Alzheimer precursor protein (APP) is thought to be central to the deposition of the beta-A4 peptide and to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Expression and release of APP has also been known to mediate cell-matrix interactions and to participate in the regulation of cell proliferation. It has also been shown that APP is a member of a family of closely related proteins. This family comprises different splice-forms of APP and APP-like proteins (APP/APLP). Because of the specific processing of exportable proteins, thyrocytes represent a particularly useful cell type for the study of the processing of APP/APLP (especially proteolysis and iodination) as an indication of cell surface expression and for the study of the regulation of these functions.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Rats were treated in vivo with propylthiouracil, which is known to cause a rise of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and maximum stimulation of thyroid function and growth. The expression of APP/APLP was analyzed in rat thyroid tissue and in a continuous cell line (FRTL-5) by immunofluorescence staining and by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Using FRTL-5 cells, secretion and turnover were analyzed by biosynthetic radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation of APP/APLP.

RESULTS

APP/APLP was detected in follicle cells and in the follicle lumen of resting thyroid glands. In propylthiouracil-treated rats, the complete endocytic removal of the luminal content coincided with the pronounced visualization of APP/APLP in the extrafollicular space, where it was associated with proliferating endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In FRTL-5 cells, APP/APLP was localized mainly in the Golgi complex and in compartments along the endocytic pathway, including lysosomes, where degradation of APP/APLP occurred. Mature and immature forms of APP/APLP became iodinated upon reaching the plasma membrane. Part of the extracellular portion of APP/APLP was released by these cells into the culture medium by TSH-dependent cleavage and secretion mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

The observations show the expression, maturation, and secretion of APP/APLP in thyrocytes and the up-regulation of these processes by TSH. Part of the immature APP/APLP appeared on the cell surface as indicated by its iodination. Apparently, this portion of immature APP/APLP escaped maturation during its transport to the cell surface.