title: Amyloid beta: multiple mechanisms of toxicity and only some protective effects?
abstract: Amyloid beta (Aβ) is a peptide of 39-43 amino acids found in large amounts and forming deposits in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). For this reason, it has been implicated in the pathophysiology of damage observed in this type of dementia. However, the role of Aβ in the pathophysiology of AD is not yet precisely understood. Aβ has been experimentally shown to have a wide range of toxic mechanisms in vivo and in vitro, such as excitotoxicity, mitochondrial alterations, synaptic dysfunction, altered calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, and so forth. In contrast, Aβ has also shown some interesting neuroprotective and physiological properties under certain experimental conditions, suggesting that both physiological and pathological roles of Aβ may depend on several factors. In this paper, we reviewed both toxic and protective mechanisms of Aβ to further explore what their potential roles could be in the pathophysiology of AD. The complete understanding of such apparently opposed effects will also be an important guide for the therapeutic efforts coming in the future.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurorrehabilitación, Servicio de Rehabilitación Neurológica, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, 14389 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3178-7016
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carrillo-Mora
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociencia Cognitiva, Instituto de Fisiología Celular-Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rogelio
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0711-7562
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociencias, FES Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 54090 Tlalnepantla, MEX, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colín-Barenque
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents