Chapter 8. Microglial Blockade of the Amyloid Cascade: A New Therapeutic Frontier

2022 ◽  
pp. 193-254
Author(s):  
David V. Hansen ◽  
Brenan K. Cullimore ◽  
John C. Johanson ◽  
Wenhan Cheng
Keyword(s):  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 99-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Allsop ◽  
Jennifer Mayes

One of the hallmarks of AD (Alzheimer's disease) is the formation of senile plaques in the brain, which contain fibrils composed of Aβ (amyloid β-peptide). According to the ‘amyloid cascade’ hypothesis, the aggregation of Aβ initiates a sequence of events leading to the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, and on to the main symptom of dementia. However, emphasis has now shifted away from fibrillar forms of Aβ and towards smaller and more soluble ‘oligomers’ as the main culprit in AD. The present chapter commences with a brief introduction to the disease and its current treatment, and then focuses on the formation of Aβ from the APP (amyloid precursor protein), the genetics of early-onset AD, which has provided strong support for the amyloid cascade hypothesis, and then on the development of new drugs aimed at reducing the load of cerebral Aβ, which is still the main hope for providing a more effective treatment for AD in the future.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1244
Author(s):  
Anna Yang ◽  
Boris Kantor ◽  
Ornit Chiba-Falek

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has a critical unmet medical need. The consensus around the amyloid cascade hypothesis has been guiding pre-clinical and clinical research to focus mainly on targeting beta-amyloid for treating AD. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the clinical trials have repeatedly failed, prompting the urgent need to refocus on other targets and shifting the paradigm of AD drug development towards precision medicine. One such emerging target is apolipoprotein E (APOE), identified nearly 30 years ago as one of the strongest and most reproduceable genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD). An exploration of APOE as a new therapeutic culprit has produced some very encouraging results, proving that the protein holds promise in the context of LOAD therapies. Here, we review the strategies to target APOE based on state-of-the-art technologies such as antisense oligonucleotides, monoclonal antibodies, and gene/base editing. We discuss the potential of these initiatives in advancing the development of novel precision medicine therapies to LOAD.


NeuroImage ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 227 ◽  
pp. 117676
Author(s):  
Philip S. Insel ◽  
Michael C. Donohue ◽  
David Berron ◽  
Oskar Hansson ◽  
Niklas Mattsson-Carlgren

2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 961-968
Author(s):  
Wolfgang J. Streit ◽  
Habibeh Khoshbouei ◽  
Ingo Bechmann

Microglia constitute the brain’s immune system and their involvement in Alzheimer’s disease has been discussed. Commonly, and in line with the amyloid/neuroinflammation cascade hypothesis, microglia have been portrayed as potentially dangerous immune effector cells thought to be overactivated by amyloid and producing neurotoxic inflammatory mediators that lead to neurofibrillary degeneration. We disagree with this theory and offer as an alternative the microglial dysfunction theory stating that microglia become impaired in their normally neuroprotective roles because of aging, i.e., they become senescent and aging neurons degenerate because they lack the needed microglial support for their survival. Thus, while the amyloid cascade theory relies primarily on genetic data, the dysfunction theory incorporates aging as a critical etiological factor. Aging is the greatest risk factor for the sporadic (late-onset) and most common form of Alzheimer’s disease, where fully penetrant genetic mutations are absent. In this review, we lay out and discuss the human evidence that supports senescent microglial dysfunction and conflicts with the amyloid/neuroinflammation idea.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 16-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dafna Inbar ◽  
Haim Belinson ◽  
Hanna Rosenman ◽  
Daniel M. Michaelson
Keyword(s):  

Author(s):  
Prativa Sadhu ◽  
◽  
Srijani Sen ◽  
Catherine Vanlalhriatpuii ◽  
◽  
...  

Neurodegenerative disorders are marked by the loss of brain neuron activity, resulting in gradual cognitive impairment. The effects of neurodegenerative diseases are severe in terms of pathology and the cost of patient care. The aged, in general, are the most vulnerable. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a brain ailment that causes cell degradation and is the leading cause of dementia, identified by a loss of thinking ability and independence in daily tasks. The amyloid cascade hypothesis, which attributes clinical signs/symptoms to an abundance of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, enhanced deposition into amyloid plaques, and eventually neuronal destruction, is one theory for pathogenesis AD. The use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in AD treatment is based on their favorable effects on the disease's functional, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. However, their involvement in AD pathogenesis is uncertain. This comprehensive review will provide an overview of AD, including the pathophysiology, causes, treatments, and future treatment.


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