The effect of the Icelandic mutation APPA673T in the line 66 model of tauopathy

Abstract

The Icelandic mutation in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), APPA673T, has been identified in Icelandic and Scandinavian populations and is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimers disease (AD). Although this mutation led to reduction in amyloid {beta}-protein (A{beta}) production, its effect on tau pathology is not well studied. We have crossed line 66 (L66) tau transgenic mice that overexpress the P301S aggregation-prone form of tau with C57Bl6/J mice expressing a single point mutation edited into the murine APP gene via CRISPR-Cas gene editing, termed APPA673T. We have performed ELISA, histopathological and behavioural analyses of heterozygous male/female L66 and L66xAPPA673T crosses at the age of 6 months to investigate the effect of the A673T mutation on tau brain pathology and behavioural deficits in these mice. Using immunohistochemistry, we found only a moderate, yet significant, reduction of mAb 7/51-reactive tau in prefrontal cortex for L66xAPPA673T compared to L66 mice. Quantification of tau in soluble/insoluble brain homogenate fractions by ELISA confirmed the lack of overt differences between genotypes, as did our extensive behavioural phenotyping using six different paradigms accessing motor function, olfaction, depression/apathy-like behaviour, as well as exploration and sociability. Therefore, the APPA673T mutation does not appear to modulate tau pathology or motor and neuropsychiatric behaviour in L66 tau transgenic mice.