Alzheimer's disease linking neurodegeneration with neurodevelopment.
An association has recently been suggested between several of the genes and proteins that play a central role in early neuronal development, particularly in neuronal migration and axon elongation, and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper reviews the work of several investigators who have hypothesised the involvement of three pathways known to be active participants in neuronal maturation (those involving Notch, Reelin, and Wnt intracellular signalling) and also in the neurodegenerative events underlying AD. The choice of these intracellular pathways is based on the observation that there exist several points of convergence among these systems and amyloid precursor protein processing and neurofibrillary tangle formation. Pharmacological manipulation of the Notch/Wnt/Reelin intracellular signalling pathways may thus represent a novel approach to the regulation of neurodegenerative processes in AD.
Grilli
Mariagrazia
M
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnologies, University of Brescia Medical School, Brescia, Italy.
Ferrari Toninelli
Giulia
G
Uberti
Daniela
D
Spano
PierFranco
P
Memo
Maurizio
M
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000254:growth & development; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C000717127:RELN protein, human; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases