Table 2 Salient features of transgenic animal models of AD
From: Insight into the emerging and common experimental in-vivo models of Alzheimer’s disease
S. No | Model | Transgene | Transgenic promoter | Merits | Demerits | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | PDAPP | APP | PDGF | High pathological similarity with AD patients | Difficulty in standardization and differentiating between functional and pathogenic Aβ | |
2. | APP23 | APP751 cDNA | Neuron-specific murine Thy-1 | Hippocampus and neocortex regions are majorly affected as observed in humans | Neurofibrillary tangles are not observed | |
3. | Tg2576 | APP | Hamster prion protein (PrP) | Slow rate of Aβ deposition | Scant Aβ pathology and plaque burden | |
4. | hAPP-J20 mice | Swedish (K670N and M671L); (V7171F) | PDGF | High propensity for thigmotactic swimming thus better to evaluate spatial memory | Neuroinflammation and neuronal cell loss occur before Aβ pathology making it difficult to study plaque development | |
5. | P301S | PS19 | Murine Thy1 | Atrophy and damage of hippocampal region makes it clinically relevant to AD patients | No amyloid plaques No link between genetic mutation and tau pathology is found in AD patients | |
6. | APP/PS1 | APPswe, PS1dE9 | Mouse prion protein | Amyloid plaque morphology is similar to humans Homozygous lines are produced | Late onset of cognitive dysfunction No signs of motor deficits | |
7. | 3 × Tg or LaFerla mouse | APP, PSEN1, MAPT tau | Mouse Thy1 minigene | Both amyloid plaques and tau tangles can be seen | Evaluation is challenging due to multiple gene stimulation | |
8. | 5 × FAD | Swedish (K670N, M671L), Florida (I716V), and London (V7171) and human PSEN1 (M146L and L286V) regulated by Thy1 promoter | Thy1 promoter | Prominent amyloid plaque deposition similar to AD patients | No tau pathology is observed |