Binding of gelsolin, a secretory protein, to amyloid beta-protein

Abstract

Soluble amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is normally present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. However, it is fibrillized and deposited as plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contains several circulating proteins (apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein J, and transthyretin) that bind to Abeta. We report here that gelsolin, a secretory protein, also binds to Abeta in a concentration-dependent manner. Under similar conditions, other proteins such as G-actin, protein kinase C, polyglutamic acid, and gelatin did not bind to Abeta. Solid phase binding assays showed two Abeta binding sites on gelsolin that have dissociation constants (Kd) of 1.38 and 2.55 microM. Abeta was found to co-immunoprecipitate along with gelsolin from the plasma, suggesting that gelsolin-Abeta complex exists under physiological conditions. The gelsolin-Abeta complex was sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)stable in the absence of reducing agent, but was dissociated when the SDS stop solution contained dithiothreitol (reducing agent). This study suggests that the function of secretory gelsolin in the CSF and plasma is to bind and sequester Abeta.