AbetaPP-overexpression and proteasome inhibition increase alphaB-crystallin in cultured human muscle: relevance to inclusion-body myositis

Amyloid-beta precursor protein (AbetaPP) and its fragment amyloid-beta (Abeta) are increased in s-IBM muscle fibers and appear to play an important role in the pathogenic cascade. alphaB-Crystallin (alphaBC) was shown immunohistochemically to be accumulated in s-IBM muscle fibers, but the stressor(s) influencing alphaBC accumulation was not identified. We now demonstrate, using our experimental IBM model based on genetic overexpression of AbetaPP into cultured normal human muscle fibers, that: (1) AbetaPP overexpression increased alphaBC 3.7-fold (p=0.025); (2) additional inhibition of proteasome with epoxomicin increased alphaBC 7-fold (p=0.002); and (3) alphaBC physically associated with AbetaPP and Abeta oligomers. We also show that in biopsied s-IBM muscle fibers, alphaBC was similarly increased 3-fold (p=0.025) and physically associated with AbetaPP and Abeta oligomers. We propose that increased AbetaPP is a stressor increasing alphaBC expression in s-IBM muscle fibers. Determining the consequences of alphaBC association with Abeta oligomers could have clinical therapeutic relevance.