Kajian Ekspresi Gen BACE1 sebagai Marka Molekuler Penyakit Alzheimer pada Otak Monyet Ekor Panjang (Macaca fascicularis)

Abstract

Penyakit Alzheimer adalah gangguan neurodegenerative yang menyebabkan penurunan daya ingat dan fungsi kognitif pada penderitanya. Penggunaan monyet ekor panjang dilakukan karena secara anatomis maupun fisiologis memiliki kemiripan dengan manusia dibandingkan hewan coba lainnya. Penelitian ini menganalisis ekspresi gen Β-site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) di otak sebagai marka molekuler penyakit Alzheimer. Sampel diekstraksi dan diolah menggunakan Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) berdasarkan regio otak hipokampus dan korteks prefrontal pada 6 monyet ekor panjang betina dengan kelompok usia dewasa dan tua. Level ekspresi mRNA gen BACE1 dibandingkan dengan gen housekeeping yaitu beta-actin (ACTB). Hasil analisis data statistik menunjukan tidak adanya perbedaan nyata antara ekspresi mRNA gen BACE1 pada perbedaan kelompok usia maupun regio otak. Namun, hasil perhitungan menunjukan kecenderungan lebih tinggi pada regio hipokampus dan kelompok usia dewasa dibandingkan korteks dan kelompok usia tua pada monyet ekor panjang.

Alzheimer’s disease is is a neurodegenerative disorder that cause decline in memory, and cognitive function in the patient’s. The use long-tailed macaques is conducted due to their anatomical and physiological similarities to humans compared to other experimental animals. This study analyzed the expression of the Β-site Amyloid Precursor Protein Cleaving Enzyme 1 (BACE1) gene in the brain as molecular marker of Alzheimer's disease. Samples were extracted and processed using Reverse Transcription quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) from the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex regions of six female long-tailed macaques with adult and old age groups. The mRNA expression levels of the BACE1 gene were compared to the beta-actin (ACTB) as housekeeping gene. The data analysis showed no significant differences in the mRNA expression of the BACE1 gene between different age groups or brain regions. However, there was a tendency that mRNA expression levels in the hippocampus region and the adult age group higher than the cortex region and the old age group in the long-tailed macaques.