title: beta-Amyloid 25-35 activates nitric oxide synthase in a neuronal clone.
abstract: The role played by the beta-amyloid protein in the neuropathology which accompanies Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. In an effort to unravel some of the cellular actions of beta-amyloid, we investigated its effects on nitric oxide (NO) release in cultured neuron. The putative neurotoxic fragment 25-35 of beta-amyloid stimulated release of NO in a neuronal cell line, as measured by an increase in cyclic GMP formation which is attenuated by NO synthase inhibitors and NO scavengers. These results suggest that NO might mediate intercellular communication effected by beta-amyloid. Our results provide the first piece of evidence that beta-amyloid directly activates a putative neurotoxic second messenger transduction mechanism. These findings might be of potential value in understanding the molecular basis of Alzheimer's disease pathology and in targeting new effective therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuroscience Research in Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis 55455.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: el-Fakahany
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D006152:Cyclic GMP