Regulation of tau phosphorylation and protection against beta-amyloid-induced neurodegeneration by lithium. Possible implications for Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of the beta-amyloid peptide and the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, among other features. The most widely accepted hypothesis on the etiopathogenesis of this disease proposes that the aggregates of the beta-amyloid peptide are the main triggers of tau hyperphosphorylation and the subsequent degeneration of affected neurons. In support of this view, fibrillar aggregates of synthetic beta-amyloid peptide induce tau hyperphosphorylation and cell death in cultured neurons. We have previously reported that lithium inhibits tau hyperphosphorylation and also significantly protects cultured neurons from cell death triggered by beta-amyloid peptide. As lithium is a relatively specific inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (in comparison with other protein kinases), and other studies also point to a relevant role of this enzyme, we favor the view that glycogen synthase kinase-3 is a crucial element in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In our opinion, the possibility of using lithium, or other inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3, in experimental trials aimed to ameliorate neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease should be considered.
Departamento de Biología Molecular, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 28049.
Gema
G
Alvarez
Juan Ramón
JR
Muñoz-Montaño
Jorgina
J
Satrústegui
Jesús
J
Avila
Elena
E
Bogónez
Javier
J
Díaz-Nido
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016875:tau Proteins; D008094:Lithium; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3