scholarly journals A small molecule that displays marked reactivity toward copper– versus zinc–amyloid-β implicated in Alzheimer's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 50 (40) ◽  
pp. 5301-5303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masha G. Savelieff ◽  
Yuzhong Liu ◽  
Russell R. P. Senthamarai ◽  
Kyle J. Korshavn ◽  
Hyuck Jin Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Chemical Tools

A small molecule was designed for reactivity toward Cu(ii)–amyloid-β over Zn(ii)–amyloid-β, which will expand on the development of chemical tools to uncover the role of metal–Aβ species in Alzheimer's disease.

Microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Süß ◽  
Johannes C.M. Schlachetzki
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Disease Modifying Therapy ◽  
Transcriptomic Signature

: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disorder. Although proteinaceous aggregates of extracellular Amyloid-β (Aβ) and intracellular hyperphosphorylated microtubule- associated tau have long been identified as characteristic neuropathological hallmarks of AD, a disease- modifying therapy against these targets has not been successful. An emerging concept is that microglia, the innate immune cells of the brain, are major players in AD pathogenesis. Microglia are longlived tissue-resident professional phagocytes that survey and rapidly respond to changes in their microenvironment. Subpopulations of microglia cluster around Aβ plaques and adopt a transcriptomic signature specifically linked to neurodegeneration. A plethora of molecules and pathways associated with microglia function and dysfunction has been identified as important players in mediating neurodegeneration. However, whether microglia exert either beneficial or detrimental effects in AD pathology may depend on the disease stage. : In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the stage-dependent role of microglia in AD, including recent insights from genetic and gene expression profiling studies as well as novel imaging techniques focusing on microglia in human AD pathology and AD mouse models.

scholarly journals Astrocytes and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1321-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma C. Phillips ◽  
Cara L. Croft ◽  
Ksenia Kurbatskaya ◽  
Michael J. O’Neill ◽  
Michael L. Hutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Synaptic Dysfunction ◽  
Amyloid Β Peptide ◽  
Substantial Evidence ◽  
Models Of Disease ◽  
Opposing Effects

Increased production of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) and altered processing of tau in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are associated with synaptic dysfunction, neuronal death and cognitive and behavioural deficits. Neuroinflammation is also a prominent feature of AD brain and considerable evidence indicates that inflammatory events play a significant role in modulating the progression of AD. The role of microglia in AD inflammation has long been acknowledged. Substantial evidence now demonstrates that astrocyte-mediated inflammatory responses also influence pathology development, synapse health and neurodegeneration in AD. Several anti-inflammatory therapies targeting astrocytes show significant benefit in models of disease, particularly with respect to tau-associated neurodegeneration. However, the effectiveness of these approaches is complex, since modulating inflammatory pathways often has opposing effects on the development of tau and amyloid pathology, and is dependent on the precise phenotype and activities of astrocytes in different cellular environments. An increased understanding of interactions between astrocytes and neurons under different conditions is required for the development of safe and effective astrocyte-based therapies for AD and related neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Astrocytes and Adenosine A2A Receptors: Active Players in Alzheimer’s Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia R. Lopes ◽  
Rodrigo A. Cunha ◽  
Paula Agostinho
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
A2a Receptors ◽  
Novel Therapeutic Strategies

Astrocytes, through their numerous processes, establish a bidirectional communication with neurons that is crucial to regulate synaptic plasticity, the purported neurophysiological basis of memory. This evidence contributed to change the classic “neurocentric” view of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), being astrocytes increasingly considered a key player in this neurodegenerative disease. AD, the most common form of dementia in the elderly, is characterized by a deterioration of memory and of other cognitive functions. Although, early cognitive deficits have been associated with synaptic loss and dysfunction caused by amyloid-β peptides (Aβ), accumulating evidences support a role of astrocytes in AD. Astrocyte atrophy and reactivity occurring at early and later stages of AD, respectively, involve morphological alterations that translate into functional changes. However, the main signals responsible for astrocytic alterations in AD and their impact on synaptic function remain to be defined. One possible candidate is adenosine, which can be formed upon extracellular catabolism of ATP released by astrocytes. Adenosine can act as a homeostatic modulator and also as a neuromodulator at the synaptic level, through the activation of adenosine receptors, mainly of A1R and A2AR subtypes. These receptors are also present in astrocytes, being particularly relevant in pathological conditions, to control the morphofunctional responses of astrocytes. Here, we will focus on the role of A2AR, since they are particularly associated with neurodegeneration and also with memory processes. Furthermore, A2AR levels are increased in the AD brain, namely in astrocytes where they can control key astrocytic functions. Thus, unveiling the role of A2AR in astrocytes function might shed light on novel therapeutic strategies for AD.

scholarly journals Amyloid-β oligomers synaptotoxicity: The emerging role of EphA4/c-Abl signaling in Alzheimer's disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 1864 (4) ◽  
pp. 1148-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. Vargas ◽  
W. Cerpa ◽  
F.J. Muñoz ◽  
S. Zanlungo ◽  
A.R. Alvarez
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Amyloid Β

scholarly journals The Role of APP O-Glycosylation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1569
Author(s):  
Keiko Akasaka-Manya ◽  
Hiroshi Manya
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Senile Plaque ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Pathological Feature ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Neurodegenerative Dementia ◽  
Aβ Production

The number of people with dementia is increasing rapidly due to the increase in the aging population. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a type of neurodegenerative dementia caused by the accumulation of abnormal proteins. Genetic mutations, smoking, and several other factors have been reported as causes of AD, but alterations in glycans have recently been demonstrated to play a role in AD. Amyloid-β (Aβ), a cleaved fragment of APP, is the source of senile plaque, a pathological feature of AD. APP has been reported to undergo N- and O-glycosylation, and several Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (ppGalNAc-Ts) have been shown to have catalytic activity for the transfer of GalNAc to APP. Since O-glycosylation in the proximity of a cleavage site in many proteins has been reported to be involved in protein processing, O-glycans may affect the cleavage of APP during the Aβ production process. In this report, we describe new findings on the O-glycosylation of APP and Aβ production.

Recent progress on the role of GABAergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghulam Abbas ◽  
Wajahat Mahmood ◽  
Nurul Kabir
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Gaba Receptor ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Receptor Subtypes ◽  
Causative Role ◽  
Gabaergic Neurotransmission ◽  
Promising Target ◽  
The Brain

AbstractDespite their possible causative role, targeting amyloidosis, tau phosphorylation, acetylcholine esterase, glutamate, oxidative stress and mitochondrial metabolism have not yet led to the development of drugs to cure Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent preclinical and clinical reports exhibit a surge in interest in the role of GABAergic neurotransmission in the pathogenesis of AD. The interaction among GABAergic signaling, amyloid-β and acetylcholine is shown to affect the homeostasis between excitation (glutamate) and inhibition (GABA) in the brain. As a consequence, over-excitation leads to neurodegeneration (excitotoxicity) and impairment in the higher level functions. Previously, the glutamate arm of this balance received the most attention. Recent literature suggests that over-excitation is primarily mediated by dysfunctional GABA signaling and can possibly be restored by rectifying anomalous metabolism observed in the GABAergic neurons during AD. Additionally, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis have also been linked with GABAergic signaling. This association may provide a basis for the needed repair mechanism. Furthermore, several preclinical interventional studies revealed that targeting various GABA receptor subtypes holds potential in overcoming the memory deficits associated with AD. In conclusion, the recent scientific literature suggests that GABAergic signaling presents itself as a promising target for anti-AD drug development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document