Do Amyloid Beta-Associated Factors Co-Deposit With A Beta In Mouse Models For Alzheimer'S Disease?

Senile plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients not only consist of the amyloid-beta protein (A beta), but also contain many different A beta-associated factors, such as heparan sulfate proteoglycans, apolipoproteins, and complement factors. These factors may all influence A beta deposition, aggregation, and clearance and therefore seem important in the development of human A beta deposits. To study AD pathology and test new therapeutic agents, many different mouse models have been created. By transgenic expression of the amyloid-beta protein precursor, frequently in combination with other transgenes, these animals develop A beta deposits that morphologically resemble their human counterparts. Whether this resemblance also applies to the presence of A beta-associated factors is largely unclear. In this review, the co-deposition of factors known to associate with human A beta deposits is summarized for several different AD mouse models.