Amyloid β peptide induces cytochrome c release from isolated mitochondria

Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is a neurotoxic metabolic product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Aβ is strongly implicated in the pathology of Alzheimerʼs disease (AD) and can be formed intracellularly. In this study, we show that the addition of Aβ1-42 to isolated mouse brain mitochondria can directly induce cytochrome c (Cyt c) release and mitochondrial swelling, which were partially inhibited by cyclosporin A (CsA). These results suggest that the Aβaccumulated intracellularly by APP processing might exert neurotoxicity by interacting with mitochondria and inducing mitochondrial swelling and release of Cyt c, which activates caspase-3 and finally can lead to apoptosis in neuronal cells and to neurodegeneration in AD.