No abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) facilitates amyloid-b (Ab) exchange between the blood and the brain. Here, we found that the cellular prion protein (PrP c ), a putative receptor implicated in mediating Ab neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease (AD), participates in Ab transcytosis across the BBB. Using an in vitro BBB model, [ 125 I]-Ab 1À40 transcytosis was reduced by genetic knockout of PrP c or after addition of a competing PrP c -specific antibody. Furthermore, we provide evidence that PrP c is expressed in endothelial cells and, that monomeric Ab 1À40 binds to PrP c . These observations provide new mechanistic insights into the role of PrP c in AD.