Background
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive memory impairment and other cognitive disorders. It is divided into Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and Sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD). SAD is also called delayed Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). Sortilin Related Receptor 1 (SORL1) is a high-risk pathogenic gene of LOAD, which can participate in the occurrence and development of AD by affecting the transport and metabolism of intracellular β-amyloid precursor protein (APP). The expression of SORL1 is significantly downregulated in patients with LOAD.
Results
In the SORL1 knockout (SORL1 KO) mouse model constructed by CRISPR/cas9, we found that the expression of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the brain of SORL1 KO mice was significantly down-regulated and Amyloid β-protein (Aβ) deposition was found in the brain of
SORL1 KO mice. Through the SORL1 knockdown N2a cell model constructed by shRNA, we also found that when the SORL1 expression was knocked down, the BDNF expression was also downregulated and the cell viability decreased. The results of immunohistochemistry and in vitro cell model experiments suggest that the downregulation of BDNF caused by SORL1 knockdown may be mainly achieved by affecting the expression and distribution of N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDAR).
Conclusions
SORL1 knockout changes the expression and distribution of NMDAR in cells, downregulates the expression of BDNF, and thus affects the learning and memory of mice.