Inhibitors of apoptosis, APP processing and prostaglandin formation: disease modifying drugs for Alzheimer's disease?
There is currently a vast array of compounds in clinical trials dealing with the cholinergic deficits characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are already many reviews addressing this approach which, to date, has yielded only minimal palliative effects and does not stop the disease processes underlying the progressive loss of neurons. In contrast, this review will attempt to assess the progress that has been made toward the discovery of a truly disease-modifying agent for AD. These approaches include: apoptosis inhibitors; inhibitors of APP processing (prolyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26) inhibitors, gamma-secretase inhibitors, and inhibitors of amyloid aggregation); and, prostaglandin formation (COX-2 and COX/5-LO inhibitors).
Wood
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Neurex, 3760 Haven Avenue, Menio Park, CA 94025-1012, USA. pwood@neurex.com