TRPC6 specifically interacts with APP to inhibit its cleavage by γ-secretase and reduce Aβ production.

Generation of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide in Alzheimer's disease involves cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by γ-secretase， a protease known to cleave several substrates， including Notch. Finding specific modulators for γ-secretase could be a potential avenue to treat the disease. Here， we report that transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 6 specifically interacts with APP leading to inhibition of its cleavage by γ-secretase and reduction in Aβ production. TRPC6 interacts with APP (C99)， but not with Notch， and prevents C99 interaction with presenilin 1 (PS1). A fusion peptide derived from TRPC6 also reduces Aβ levels without effect on Notch cleavage. Crossing APP/PS1 mice with TRPC6 transgenic mice leads to a marked reduction in both plaque load and Aβ levels， and improvement in structural and behavioural impairment. Thus， TRPC6 specifically modulates γ-secretase cleavage of APP and preventing APP (C99) interaction with PS1 via TRPC6 could be a novel strategy to reduce Aβ formation.