Differential regulation of glutamate receptors in Alzheimer's disease.
Selective neurodegeneration is a prominent feature in Alzheimer's disease; however, the mechanism of neuronal death is still unclear. Nonetheless, the topographical distribution of different types of receptors is thought to contribute to the regional selective nature of neuronal degeneration. Specifically, since glutamatergic transmission is severely altered by the early degeneration of cortico-cortical connections and hippocampal projections in Alzheimer's disease, we suspect that glutamate receptors may play a new role in the pathophysiology of disease. Here we review the salient aspects of glutamate receptor expression in Alzheimer's disease and how their differential regulation can contribute to the selective neurodegeneration seen in the disease. Additionally, we assess the potential therapeutic value of glutamate receptors as a target for drug intervention in Alzheimer's disease.
Lee
Hyoung-gon
HG
Institute of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, 2085 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Zhu
Xiongwei
X
Ghanbari
Hossein A
HA
Ogawa
Osamu
O
Raina
Arun K
AK
O'Neill
Micheal J
MJ
Perry
George
G
Smith
Mark A
MA
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000502:physiology*; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology
D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018092:Kainic Acid Receptors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate