Up-regulation of E2F-1 in Down’s syndrome brain exhibiting neuropathological features of Alzheimer-type dementia

We studied the expression of the apoptosis-related protein, E2F-1, in Down’s syndrome (DS) brains. The immunoreactivity for E2F-1 was detected in the pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex from DS brains exhibiting the neuropathological features of dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT), in accordance with the amyloid β protein (Aβ) deposition in the neuron. Therefore, the implication is that Aβ deposition may trigger E2F-1-mediated neuronal apoptosis in DS brains with DAT.