title: Role of amyloid precursor protein, amyloid-beta and gamma-secretase in cholesterol maintenance.
abstract: Lipids play an important part as risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. This article summarizes the current understanding of the molecular mechanism by which amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptides regulate cholesterol and sphingomyelin metabolism, and how in return cholesterol and sphingomyelin regulate Abeta peptide production. An understanding of the physiological function of amyloid precursor protein processing and Abeta function is critical for the development of future therapeutic approaches, e.g. statin treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Molecular Biology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. tobias.hartmann@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hartmann
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D002784:Cholesterol; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases