title: Membrane biophysics and mechanics in Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neuronal loss, cerebrovascular inflammation, and accumulation of senile plaques in the brain parenchyma and cerebral blood vessels. Amyloid-beta peptide (Abeta), a major component of senile plaques, has been shown to exert multiple toxic effects to neurons, astrocytes, glial cells, and brain endothelium. Oligomeric Abeta can disturb the structure and function of cell membranes and alter membrane mechanical properties, such as membrane fluidity and molecular order. Much of these effects are attributed to their capability to trigger oxidative stress and inflammation. In this review, we discuss the effects of Abeta on neuronal cells, astrocytes, and cerebral endothelial cells with special emphasis on cell membrane properties and cell functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, University of Missouri, 240 Agricultural Engineering Building, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Sholpan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Askarova
authors.forename: James C-M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D002784:Cholesterol; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D002118:Calcium