title: Eph receptors: new players in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is devastating and leads to permanent losses of memory and other cognitive functions. Although recent genetic evidences strongly argue for a causative role of Aβ in AD onset and progression (Jonsson et al., 2012), its role in AD etiology remains a matter of debate. However, even if not the sole culprit or pathological trigger, genetic and anatomical evidences in conjunction with numerous pharmacological studies, suggest that Aβ peptides, at least contribute to the disease. How Aβ contributes to memory loss remains largely unknown. Soluble Aβ species referred to as Aβ oligomers have been shown to be neurotoxic and induce network failure and cognitive deficits in animal models of the disease. In recent years, several proteins were described as potential Aβ oligomers receptors, amongst which are the receptor tyrosine kinases of Eph family. These receptors together with their natural ligands referred to as ephrins have been involved in a plethora of physiological and pathological processes, including embryonic neurogenesis, learning and memory, diabetes, cancers and anxiety. Here we review recent discoveries on Eph receptors-mediated protection against Aβ oligomers neurotoxicity as well as their potential as therapeutic targets in AD pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR7275 CNRS/UNS, "Labex Distalz", 660 route des Lucioles, 06560, Sophia-Antipolis, Valbonne, France.. Electronic address: cisse@ipmc.cnrs.fr.
authors.forename: Moustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cissé
authors.affiliation: Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR7275 CNRS/UNS, "Labex Distalz", 660 route des Lucioles, 06560, Sophia-Antipolis, Valbonne, France.. Electronic address: checler@ipmc.cnrs.fr.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Checler
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D036081:Receptors, Eph Family / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D036081:Receptors, Eph Family
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Dendritic spines; EphB2; Kalirin7; NMDA receptors