Rationalizing a pharmacological intervention on the amyloid precursor protein metabolism.
The treatment of Alzheimer's disease remains a major challenge because of our incomplete understanding of the triggering events that lead to the selective neurodegeneration characteristic of Alzheimer's brains. The rational design of a pharmacological intervention is therefore a great theoretical challenge. One approach involves the study of the pharmacological modulation of the amyloid precursor protein metabolism, in which the goal is to reduce the formation of beta-amyloid in the hope of reducing the formation of a potentially neurotoxic peptide. Such an approach has led to the identification of a complex intracellular mechanism that can be regulated by neurotransmitters and other ligands.
Racchi
M
M
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 14 27100 Pavia, Italy. racchi@unipv.it
Govoni
S
S
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents