title: Signaling of the neurotrophin receptor p75 in relation to Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: The cellular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is poorly understood. Many hypotheses have been put fourth to explain the underlying reason for neuro-degeneration in AD. Here, it is demonstrated that all neurotrophins that activated p75, without co-activation of the relevant Trk co-receptor, mediated apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. Thus, proneurotrophins and amyloid beta peptides (Abeta) can induce p75-mediated apoptosis in hippocampal neurons since they do not bind or activate Trk receptors. Based on the combined effects of aging, proneurotrophins, neurotrophins, and Abeta, a novel model of pathogenesis in AD is proposed. This mini-review explores the ligand and cell type based signaling pathways of the neurotrophin receptor p75 relating to Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA.
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diarra
authors.forename: Thangiah
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geetha
authors.forename: Pamella
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Jeganathan Ramesh
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Babu
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases