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Microglial ingestion of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) has been viewed as a therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease, in that approaches that enhance clearance of Aβ relative to its production are predicted to result in decreased senile plaque formation, a proposed contributor to neuropathology. In vitro, scavenger receptors mediate ingestion of fibrillar Aβ (fAβ) by microglia. However, the finding that cerebral amyloid deposition in a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease was diminished by inoculation with synthetic Aβ has suggested a possible therapeutic role for anti-Aβ Ab-mediated phagocytosis. Microglia also express C1qRP, a receptor for complement protein C1q, ligation of which in vitro enhances phagocytosis of immune complexes formed with IgG levels below that required for optimal FcR-mediated phagocytosis. The data presented here demonstrate FcR-dependent ingestion of Aβ-anti-Aβ complexes (IgG-fAβ) by microglia that is a function of the amount of Ab used to form immune complexes. In addition, C1q incorporated into IgG-fAβ enhanced microglial uptake of these complexes when they contained suboptimal levels of anti-Aβ Ab. Mannose binding lectin and lung surfactant protein A, other ligands of C1qRP, also enhanced ingestion of suboptimally opsonized IgG-fAβ, whereas control proteins did not. Our data suggest that C1qRP-mediated events may promote efficient ingestion of Aβ at low Ab titers, and this may be beneficial in paradigms that seek to clear amyloid via FcR-mediated mechanisms by minimizing the potential for destructive Ab-induced complement-mediated processes.

Microarray expression studies have reported decreased mRNA expression of histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein (HINT1) and cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (MDH1) in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of individuals with schizophrenia. Microarray results for neuroserpin (SERPINI1) mRNA in the DLPFC have reported increased and decreased expression in individuals with schizophrenia. The relative abundances of HINT1, MDH1, and SERPINI1 mRNA in the DLPFC in individuals with schizophrenia and controls were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and for HINT1 expression by in situ hybridization. The Q-PCR results were compared by analysis of covariance between individuals with schizophrenia and controls. Gene expression levels for HINT1, MDH1, and SERPINI1 were significantly different between the groups. The male individuals with schizophrenia compared to male controls showed reductions by 2.8-to 3.7-fold of HINT1, neuroserpin, and MDH1 by Q-PCR. The decreases in mRNA abundance for MDH1 (P ϭ 0.006), HINT1 (P ϭ 0.050), and neuroserpin (P ϭ 0.005) in DLPFC of male individuals with schizophrenia is consistent with prior reports. HINT1 mRNA was reduced significantly by 34% in layer VI. Though there were no significant interactions with gender, gene expression between female patients and the female control group did not differ. These results confirm earlier reports and suggest abnormalities of specific genes related to metabolic and protease activities in the DLPFC might be considered as part of a molecular pathway in male patients with schizophrenia.

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