Article abstract


Nature Medicine 14, 1097 - 1105 (2008)
Published online: 21 September 2008 | doi:10.1038/nm.1868

Cyclophilin D deficiency attenuates mitochondrial and neuronal perturbation and ameliorates learning and memory in Alzheimer's disease

Heng Du1, Lan Guo1, Fang Fang1, Doris Chen1, Alexander A Sosunov2, Guy M McKhann2, Yilin Yan3, Chunyu Wang3, Hong Zhang4,5, Jeffery D Molkentin6, Frank J Gunn-Moore7, Jean Paul Vonsattel4, Ottavio Arancio4,5, John Xi Chen8 & Shi Du Yan1,4,5


Cyclophilin D (CypD, encoded by Ppif) is an integral part of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, whose opening leads to cell death. Here we show that interaction of CypD with mitochondrial amyloid-beta protein (Abeta) potentiates mitochondrial, neuronal and synaptic stress. The CypD-deficient cortical mitochondria are resistant to Abeta- and Ca2+-induced mitochondrial swelling and permeability transition. Additionally, they have an increased calcium buffering capacity and generate fewer mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, the absence of CypD protects neurons from Abeta- and oxidative stress–induced cell death. Notably, CypD deficiency substantially improves learning and memory and synaptic function in an Alzheimer's disease mouse model and alleviates Abeta-mediated reduction of long-term potentiation. Thus, the CypD-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore is directly linked to the cellular and synaptic perturbations observed in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Blockade of CypD may be a therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer's disease.

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  1. Departments of Surgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
  2. Neurosurgery, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
  3. Biology Department, Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180-3590, USA.
  4. Department of Pathology, the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
  5. Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
  6. Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA.
  7. School of Biology, 79 North Street, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9TS, Scotland.
  8. Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA.

Correspondence to: Shi Du Yan1,4,5 e-mail: sdy1@columbia.edu



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