The role of IGF-1 receptor and insulin receptor signaling for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease: from model organisms to human disease.
In different clinical studies, an association of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been described. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. One explanation could be that vascular complications of diabetes result in neurodegeneration. Alternatively, the mechanism might be directly related to insulin and insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-1 signaling, leading to the proposal that AD is a "brain-type diabetes". Furthermore, postmortem analyses of brains from patients with AD revealed a markedly downregulated expression of insulin receptor (IR), IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2, and these changes progress with severity of neurodegeneration. These findings raise the question, whether this phenomenon is cause or consequence of neurodegeneration. Recently, Cohen and coworkers have show that knocking down DAF-2 in C. elegans, the homolog of the mammalian IR/IGF-1R, reduces beta-amyloid(Abeta)(1-42) toxicity. Cell based experiments suggest a specific role for the IGF 1/IRS-2 signaling pathway in regulating alpha-/beta-secretase activity. Moreover circulating IGF-1 might influence Abeta clearance from the brain by promoting Abeta transport over the blood brain barrier. Interestingly, brain specific deletion of IRS-2 increases life span, suggesting that long term neuronal IGF-1R signaling might be harmful. Taken together, the data from humans and different model organisms indicate a role of IR/IGF-1R signaling in Abeta metabolism, and clearance as well as longevity. Since more studies are needed to elucidate the impact of insulin and/or IGF-1 treatment in AD, the time to propose these hormones as a potential treatment option for AD has not come yet.
Freude
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine II, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), and Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Köln, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Köln, Germany.
Schilbach
K
K
Schubert
M
M
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000378:metabolism; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016875:tau Proteins; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases