Fas-associated phosphatase–1 (FAP–1) in Alzheimer’s disease hippocampus

Fas-associated phosphatase–1 (FAP–1) is a regulatory peptide inhibiting apoptotic signal transduction via the death receptor Fas. Since apoptosis is a common mechanism leading to neuronal death in neurodegenerative disorders, we investigated the immunonistochemical distribution of FAP–1 in the hippocampus of elderly controls and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. The present study provides the first evidence that FAP–1 is localized in the human hippocampus in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampal subfields CA1–4 and in granular cells. The intensity of th cellular and extracellular FAP–1-staining was increased in some control and AD cases, but was not related to the stage of the disease. Rather this data may indicate a general role for FAP–1 in neuronal death both in adult CNS and during the course of neurodegenerative disorders.