Impact of Cytokines and Chemokines on Alzheimer's Disease Neuropathological Hallmarks.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, neuropathologically characterized by aggregates of β-amyloid peptides, which deposit as senile plaques, and of TAU protein, which forms neurofibrillary tangles. It is now widely accepted that neuroinflammation is implicated in AD pathogenesis.



Indeed, inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines (chemotactic cytokines) can impact on the Alzheimer´s amyloid precursor protein by affecting its expression levels and amyloidogenic processing and/or β -amyloid aggregation. Additionally, cytokines and chemokines can influence kinases' activities, leading to abnormal TAU phosphorylation. To date there is no cure for AD, but several therapeutic strategies have been directed to prevent neuroinflammation. Anti-inflammatory, but also anti-amyloidogenic compounds, such as flavonoids were shown to favourably modulate some pathological events associated with neurodegeneration.



This review focuses on the role of cytokines and chemokines in AD-associated pathologies, and summarizes the potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic approaches aimed at preventing or slowing down disease progression.
Neurosciences and Signalling Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Catarina
C
Domingues
Neurosciences and Signalling Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Odete A B
OAB
da Cruz E Silva
Neurosciences and Signalling Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine - iBiMED, University of Aveiro, P.O. Box: 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
Ana Gabriela
AG
Henriques
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D016207:Cytokines
Neuroinflammation; TAU; amyloid precursor protein; chemokines; cytokines; β-amyloid