CD40 promotion of amyloid beta production occurs via the NF-κB pathway

The CD40 receptor is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) super-family of trans-membrane receptors. Interaction of CD40 with its ligand CD40L mediates a broad range of immune and inflammatory responses in the periphery and in the central nervous system. Recently it has been suggested that CD40/CD40L interaction is involved in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology in transgenic mouse models of AD. We have previously shown that pharmacologically inhibiting CD40/CD40L interaction improves memory deficits in the PSAPP AD mouse model. We have also recently shown that CD40 deficiency mitigates amyloid deposition in APPsw and PSAPP mouse models. In the present report, using human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) over-expressing both the APPsw mutation and CD40, we demonstrate that CD40/CD40L interaction directly increases the production of APP metabolites (Abeta 1-40, Abeta 1-42, CTFs, sAPPbeta and sAPPalpha). The results also show that CD40/CD40L interaction affects APP processing via the NF-kappaB pathway. Using NFkappaB inhibitors and SiRNAs to silence diverse elements of the NFkappaB pathway, we observe a reduction in levels of both Abeta 1-40 and Abeta 1-42. Taken together, our results further suggest that CD40L stimulation may be a key component in AD pathology and that elements of the NF-kappaB pathway may be suitable targets for therapeutic approaches against AD.