title: Protein Kinase C Activation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Alzheimer's Disease: Is there a Role for Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision-like Proteins?
abstract: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It affects predominantly brain areas that are critical for memory and learning and is characterized by two main pathological hallmarks: extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Protein kinase C (PKC) has been classified as one of the cognitive kinases controlling memory and learning. By regulating several signalling pathways involved in amyloid and tau pathologies, it also plays an inhibitory role in AD pathophysiology. Among downstream targets of PKC are the embryonic lethal abnormal vision (ELAV)-like RNA-binding proteins that modulate the stability and the translation of specific target mRNAs involved in synaptic remodelling linked to cognitive processes. This MiniReview summarizes the current evidence on the role of PKC and ELAV-like proteins in learning and memory, highlighting how their derangement can contribute to AD pathophysiology. This last aspect emphasizes the potential of pharmacological activation of PKC as a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Virpi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Talman
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jäntti
authors.affiliation: Section of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Marialaura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amadio
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Raimo K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Tuominen
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051959:ELAV Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D020536:Enzyme Activators / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008568:Memory; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D051959:ELAV Proteins; D020536:Enzyme Activators; D011493:Protein Kinase C