5-HT₄ receptors constitutively promote the non-amyloidogenic pathway of APP cleavage and interact with ADAM10

In addition to the amyloidogenic pathway, amyloid precursor protein (APP) can be cleaved by α-secretases, producing soluble and neuroprotective APP alpha (sAPPα) (nonamyloidogenic pathway) and thus preventing the generation of pathogenic amyloid-β. However, the mechanisms regulating APP cleavage by α-secretases remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that expression of serotonin type 4 receptors (5-HT₄Rs) constitutively (without agonist stimulation) induced APP cleavage by the α-secretase ADAM10 and the release of neuroprotective sAPPα in HEK-293 cells and cortical neurons. This effect was independent of cAMP production. Interestingly, we demonstrated that 5-HT₄ receptors physically interacted with the mature form of ADAM10. Stimulation of 5-HT₄ receptors by an agonist further increased sAPPα secretion, and this effect was mediated by cAMP/Epac signaling. These findings describe a new mechanism whereby a GPCR constitutively stimulates the cleavage of APP by α-secretase and promotes the nonamyloidogenic pathway of APP processing.