Abstract

Platelets mirror pathogenic alterations in the central nervous system of Alzheimer disease (AD) patients: an alteration of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) forms pattern and decreased alpha-secretase activity--the non-amyloidogenic APP processing enzyme--were demonstrated. Platelets were analysed at baseline and after 30 days of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) treatment (T30). ADAM10 levels, alpha- and beta-secretase activity were assessed measuring ADAM10 immunoreactivity, sAPPalpha release and the membrane-attached C-terminal fragments produced by beta- and alpha-secretase cleavage, that is, CTF99 and CTF83, respectively. ChEIs treatment rescues impaired APP metabolism increasing significantly ADAM10 levels (T30 vs. T0, P < 0.05), alpha-secretase activity (T30 vs. T0, P < 0.05) and reducing beta-secretase cleavage (T30 vs. T0, P < 0.05). Restoration of the balance between the mutually exclusive alpha- and beta-secretase pathway in APP processing caused by short-term ChEIs treatment potentially represents a key event in AD therapy linking in vivo cholinergic effect to APP metabolism. The use of platelets may represent a useful tool to follow molecular aspects of pharmacological response in AD patients.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.