From prion diseases to Alzheimer's disease

Recent advances in the transgenetics of prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease have led to a clearer understanding of the relationship between these two diseases and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the two disorders. Earlier studies of transgenic mice expressing prion protein (PrP) underscored the importance of PrP levels and PrP primary structure on the resultant phenotype. Three major parameters influencing the phenotypes of mice expressing the Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) have also been identified: 1) APP levels; 2) APP primary structure; and 3) mouse host strain. The effects and implications of these parameters in transgenic mice expressing APP are discussed.