Alzheimer's disease β-amyloid peptides are released in association with exosomes

Although the exact etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a topic of debate, the consensus is that the accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides in the senile plaques is one of the hallmarks of the progression of the disease. The Abeta peptide is formed by the amyloidogenic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta- and gamma-secretases. The endocytic system has been implicated in the cleavages leading to the formation of Abeta. However, the identity of the intracellular compartment where the amyloidogenic secretases cleave and the mechanism by which the intracellularly generated Abeta is released into the extracellular milieu are not clear. Here, we show that beta-cleavage occurs in early…