Role of the nested genes ALZAS and ALZAS-1 in Alzheimer's disease

A specific auto-antibody against the 12 cterminal amino acids (ct-12) of ALZAS derived from an intron part of APP was identified by ELISA methods (1) (Fig.1). Highest autoantibody titers were measured in pre-symptomatic AD or mild cognitive impairment and moderately increased titers in confirmed AD. Low or not detectable titers characterized nondemented controls. The ALZAS expression was investigated in different tissues by qRT-PCR and Western Blotting using a specific antibody against ct-12. To test the feasible function of ALZAS and ALZAS-1 in human cellular metabolism both genes were cloned in an inducible mammalian expression vector and human cell lines subsequently transfected. CONCLUSION