The role of complement in Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Complement proteins are integral components of amyloid plaques and cerebral vascular amyloid in Alzheimer brains. They can be found at the earliest stages of amyloid deposition and their activation coincides with the clinical expression of Alzheimer's dementia. This review will examine the origins of complement in the brain and the role of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in complement activation in Alzheimer's disease, an event that might serve as a nidus of chronic inflammation. Pharmacology therapies that may serve to inhibit Abeta-mediated complement activation will also be discussed.
Emmerling
M R
MR
Neuroscience Therapeutics, Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division, Warner-Lambert Company, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. mark.emmerling@wl.com
Watson
M D
MD
Raby
C A
CA
Spiegel
K
K
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; C098994:amyloid beta-protein (1-43); D003165:Complement System Proteins