title: The Role of Amyloid-β Oligomers in Toxicity, Propagation, and Immunotherapy.
abstract: The incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is growing every day and finding an effective treatment is becoming more vital. Amyloid-β (Aβ) has been the focus of research for several decades. The recent shift in the Aβ cascade hypothesis from all Aβ to small soluble oligomeric intermediates is directing the search for therapeutics towards the toxic mediators of the disease. Targeting the most toxic oligomers may prove to be an effective treatment by preventing their spread. Specific targeting of oligomers has been shown to protect cognition in rodent models. Additionally, the heterogeneity of research on Aβ oligomers may seem contradictory until size and conformation are taken into account. In this review, we will discuss Aβ oligomers and their toxicity in relation to size and conformation as well as their influence on inflammation and the potential of Aβ oligomer immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Urmi
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sengupta
authors.affiliation: Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
authors.forename: Ashley N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nilson
authors.affiliation: Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. Electronic address: rakayed@utmb.edu.
authors.forename: Rakez
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kayed
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry; D055503:Protein Multimerization
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments
keywords: Amyloid-β; Immunotherapy; Inflammation; Oligomers; Size; Toxicity