Systemic Overexpression of a C-Terminal Fragment of Human Amyloid Beta-Protein Precursor Causes Accumulation of Alzheimer Beta-Amyloid Fibrils in Pancreas of Transgenic Mice

The deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ), derived from amyloid β-protein precursor (βAPP), is a specific and early event in development of Alzheimer’s disease. Transgenic mice carrying the carboxyl-terminus of βAPP gene linked to the cytomegalovirus enhancer/chicken β-actin promoter sequence were studied. Deposition of amyloid fibrils, composing Aβ, was observed in the transgenic pancreas, accompanied with cell degeneration. This result will provide a model to investigate the βAPP processing mechanism in vivo and a clue to generate possible Aβ amyloidosis in animal brains.