Abeta Immunotherapy and Other Means to Remove Amyloid

Title: Abeta Immunotherapy and Other Means to Remove Amyloid

Volume: 4 Issue: 5

Author(s): Edith G. McGeer and Patrick L. McGeer

Affiliation:

Keywords: alzheimers disease, amyloid precursor protein, presenilin, immunotherapy, nsaids, beta-secretase, antioxidants, apolipoprotein

Abstract: The amyloid cascade hypothesis postulates that accumulation of beta-amyloid (Abeta) plays a key role in the development of Alzheimers disease (AD). Accordingly, much effort has gone into reducing the amyloid burden, especially in transgenic mice expressing mutations in human amyloid precursor protein. Such mice develop amyloid plaques but not neurofibrillary tangles. Immunization with Abeta and other inflammatory stimuli, inhibitors of Abeta formation, cholesterol lowering agents, beta-sheet breaker peptides, antioxidants and various miscellaneous agents have been found to reduce the more soluble Abeta in such transgenic mice. Whether they would affect the more consolidated, cross-linked Abeta of AD and, if they did, whether that would really prove an effective treatment for the disease remains for future research to determine.

Cite this article as:

McGeer G. Edith and McGeer L. Patrick, Abeta Immunotherapy and Other Means to Remove Amyloid, Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders 2005; 4 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156800705774322067