• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2007

Imaging distribution of ${\beta}-amyloid$ plaques in Alzheimer's disease is very important for early and accurate diagnosis. Early trial of the ${\beta}-amyloid$ plaques includes using radiolabeled peptides which can be only applied for peripheral ${\beta}-amyloid$ plaques due to limited penetration through the blood brain barrier (BBB). Congo red or Chrysamine G derivatives were labeled with Tc-99m for imaging ${\beta}-amyloid$ plaques of Alzheimer patient's brain without success due to problem with BBB penetration. Thioflavin T derivatives gave breakthrough for ${\beta}-amyloid$ imaging in vivo, and a benzothiazole derivative [C-11]6-OH-BTA-1 brought a great success. Many other benzothiazole, benzoxazole, benzofuran, imidazopyridine, and styrylbenzene derivatives have been labeled with F-18 and I-123 to improve the imaging quality. However, [C-11]6-OH-BTA-1 still remains as the best. However, short half-life of C-11 is a limitation of wide distribution of this agent. So, it is still required to develop an Tc-99m, F-18 or I-123 labeled agent for ${\beta}-amyloid$ imaging agent.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2014

The present study investigated the effects of Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bilberry) on the learning and memory impairments induced by amyloid-${\beta}$ protein ($A{\beta}P$) 1-42. ICR Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups: the control ($A{\beta}40$-1A), control with 5% bilberry group ($A{\beta}40$-1B), amyloid ${\beta}$ protein 1-42 treated group ($A{\beta}1$-42A), and $A{\beta}1$-42 with 5% bilberry group ($A{\beta}1$-42B). The control was treated with amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 40-1 for placebo effect, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) group was treated with amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 1-42. Amyloid ${\beta}$-protein 1-42 was intracerebroventricular (ICV) micro injected into the hippocampus in 35% acetonitrile and 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid. Although bilberry added groups tended to decrease the finding time of hidden platform, no statistical significance was found. On the other hand, escape latencies of $A{\beta}P$ injected mice were extended compared to that of $A{\beta}40$-1. In the Probe test, bilberry added $A{\beta}1$-42B group showed a significant (P<0.05) increase of probe crossing frequency compared to $A{\beta}1$-42A. Administration of amyloid protein ($A{\beta}1$-42) decreased working memory compared to $A{\beta}40$-1 control group. In passive avoidance test, bilberry significantly (P<0.05) increased the time of staying in the lighted area compared to AD control. The results suggest that bilberry may help to improve memory and learning capability in chemically induced Alzheimer's disease in experimental animal models.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.276-282
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• 2019

${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP) can be cleaved by ${\alpha}$-, and ${\gamma}$-secretase at plasma membrane producing soluble ectodomain fragment ($sAPP{\alpha}$). Alternatively, following endocytosis, APP is cleaved by ${\beta}$-, and ${\gamma}$-secretase at early endosomes generating ${\beta}$-amyloid ($A{\beta}$), the main culprit in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, APP endocytosis is critical for $A{\beta}$ production. Recently, we reported that Monsonia angustifolia, the indigenous vegetables consumed in Tanzania, improved cognitive function and decreased $A{\beta}$ production. In this study, we examined the underlying mechanism of justicidin A, the active compound of M. angustifolia, on $A{\beta}$ production. We found that justicidin A reduced endocytosis of APP, increasing $sAPP{\alpha}$ level, while decreasing $A{\beta}$ level in HeLa cells overexpressing human APP with the Swedish mutation. The effect of justicidin A on $A{\beta}$ production was blocked by endocytosis inhibitors, indicating that the decreased APP endocytosis by justicidin A is the underlying mechanism. Thus, justicidin A, the active compound of M. angustifolia, may be a novel agent for AD treatment.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.38.1-38.9
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• 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disturbing and advanced neurodegenerative disease and is characterized pathologically by the accumulation of amyloid beta ($A{\beta}$) and the hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in the brain. The deposition of $A{\beta}$ aggregates triggers synaptic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration, which lead to cognitive disorders. Here, we found that FF isolated from an eatable perennial brown seaweed E.bicyclis protect against $A{\beta}$-induced neurotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with two amyloid precursor protein (APP) constructs: the APP695 cDNA (SH-SY5Y-APP695swe). The FF demonstrated strong inhibitory activity for ${\beta}$-secretase ($IC_{50}$ $16.1{\mu}M$) and its inhibition pattern was investigated using Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots, and found to be non-competitive. Then, we tested whether FF could inhibit production of $A{\beta}$ in SH-SY5Y-APP695swe. FF inhibited the production of $A{\beta}$ and soluble-APP, residue of APP from cleaved APP by ${\beta}$-secretase. Our data show that FF can inhibit the production of $A{\beta}$ and soluble-$APP{\beta}$ via inhibition of ${\beta}$-secretase activity. Taken together these results suggest that FF may be worthy of future study as an anti-AD treatment.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2013

Extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta protein ($A{\beta}$) plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Some metals, such as copper, lead, and aluminum can affect the $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the brain. However, the effect of mercury on $A{\beta}$ accumulation in the brain is not clear. Thus, this study was proposed to estimate whether mercury concentration affects $A{\beta}$ accumulation in PC12 cells. We treated 10, 100, and 1000 nM $HgCl_2$ (Hg) or $CH_3HgCl_2$ (MeHg) for 48 hr in PC12 cells. After treatment, $A{\beta}_{40}$ in culture medium increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hg and MeHg increased amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is related to $A{\beta}$ production. Neprilysin (NEP) levels in PC12 cells were decreased by Hg and MeHg treatment. These results suggested that Hg induced $A{\beta}$ accumulation through APP overproduction and reduction of NEP.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.665-670
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• 2006

Amyloid $\beta$-peptide (A$\beta$), which is a product of the proteolytic effect of $\beta$-secretase (BACE) on an amyloid precursor protein, is closely associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that a BACE inhibitor may reduce A$\beta$ levels, thus decreasing the risk of AD. In a previous study, an extract of Clavicorona pyxidata DGUM 29005 mycelia was found to inhibit the production of a soluble $\beta$-amyloid precursor protein (s$\beta$APP), A$\beta$, and BACE in neuronal cell lines. We sought to determine whether this mycelial extract exerts the same effect in human rhabdomyosarcoma A-204 and rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells. We found that the production of A$\beta$ decreased in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of the mycelial extract and that the concentration of A$\beta$ never exceeded $50{\mu}g/ml$. The presence of sAPP was detected in every culture medium to which the mycelial extract had been added and its concentration remained the same, regardless of the concentration of the extract used. Endogenous $\beta$-secretase activity in A-204 and PC-12 cellular homogenates also decreased in the presence of this extract. These cells, in culture, were not susceptible to the cytotoxic activity of the mycelial extract.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.191-200
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• 2010

Objectives : This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of Chongmyung-Tang Prescription Combination(CmTP-$C_{1-10}$) extract on the production of amyloid $\beta$ protein and $\beta$-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme(BACE) activity. Methods : The effect of CmTP-$C_{1-10}$ extract on expression of APP mRNA, BACE2 mRNA in BV2 microglia cell line treated by lipopolysacchride(LPS) and amyloid $\beta$ protein fragment(A$\beta$ fragment) were investigated. The effect of CmTP-$C_{1-10}$ extract on production of amyloid $\beta$ protein(A$\beta$) in BV2 microglia cell line treated by LPS and A$\beta$ fragment were investigated. The effect of CmTP-$C_{1-10}$ extract on BACE activity were investigated. Results : 1. CmTP-$C_9$ extract the most significantly suppressed the expression of APP mRNA, BACE2 mRNA in BV2 microglia cell line treated by LPS and A$\beta$ fragment. 2. CmTP-$C_9$ extract significantly suppressed the production of A$\beta$ in BV2 microglia cell line treated by LPS and A$\beta$ fragment. 3. CmTP-$C_9$ extract the most significantly inhibited BACE activity. Conclusions : These results suggest that CmTP-$C_9$ may be effective for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. Investigation into clinical use of CmTP-$C_9$ for Alzheimer's Disease is suggested for future research.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.245-255
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• 2012

Amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide ($A{\beta}$) is still best known as a molecule to cause Alzheimer's disease (AD) through accumulation and deposition within the frontal cortex and hippocampus in the brain. Thus, strategies on developing AD drugs have been focused on the reduction of $A{\beta}$ in the brain. Since accumulation of $A{\beta}$ depends on the rate of its synthesis and clearance, the metabolic pathway of $A{\beta}$ in the brain and the whole body should be carefully explored for AD research. Although the synthetic pathway of $A{\beta}$ is equally important, we summarize primarily the clearance pathway in this paper because the former has been extensively reviewed in previous studies. The clearance of $A{\beta}$ from the brain is accomplished by several mechanisms which include non-enzymatic and enzymatic pathways. Nonenzymatic pathway includes interstitial fluid drainage, uptake by microglial phagocytosis, and transport across the blood vessel walls into the circulation. Multiple $A{\beta}$-degrading enzymes (ADE) implicated in the clearance process have been identified, which include neprilysin, insulin-degrading enzyme, matrix metalloproteinase-9, glutamate carboxypeptidase II and others. A series of studies on $A{\beta}$ clearance mechanism provide new insight into the pathogenesis of AD at the molecular level and suggest a new target for the development of novel therapeutics.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2009

Zinc released from excited glutamatergic neurons accelerates amyloid ${\beta}$ (A ${\beta}$) aggregation, underscoring the therapeutic potential of zinc chelation for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Zinc can also alter A ${\beta}$ concentration by affecting its degradation. In order to elucidate the possible role of zinc influx in secretase-processed A ${\beta}$ production, SH-SY5Y cells stably expressing amyloid precursor protein (APP) were treated with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a zinc ionophore, and the resultant changes in APP processing were examined. PDTC decreased A ${\beta}$ 40 and A ${\beta}$ 42 concentrations in culture media bathing APP-expressing SH-SY5Y cells. Measuring the levels of a series of C-terminal APP fragments generated by enzymatic cutting at different APP-cleavage sites showed that both ${\beta}$-and ${\alpha}$-cleavage of APP were inhibited by zinc influx. PDTC also interfered with the maturation of APP. PDTC, however, paradoxically increased the intracellular levels of A ${\beta}$ 40. These results indicate that inhibition of secretase-mediated APP cleavage accounts -at least in part- for zinc inhibition of A ${\beta}$ secretion.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2018

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with extracellular plaques, composed of amyloid-beta ($A{\beta}$), in the brain. Although the precise mechanism underlying the neurotoxicity of $A{\beta}$ has not been established, $A{\beta}$ accumulation is the primary event in a cascade of events that lead to neurofibrillary degeneration and dementia. In particular, the $A{\beta}$ burden, as assessed by neuroimaging, has proved to be an excellent predictive biomarker. Positron emission tomography, using ligands such as $^{11}C$-labeled Pittsburgh Compound B or $^{18}F$-labeled tracers, such as $^{18}F$-florbetaben, $^{18}F$-florbetapir, and $^{18}F$-flutemetamol, which bind to $A{\beta}$ deposits in the brain, has been a valuable technique for visualizing and quantifying the deposition of $A{\beta}$ throughout the brain in living subjects. $A{\beta}$ imaging has very high sensitivity for detecting AD pathology. In addition, it can predict the progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD, and contribute to the development of disease-specific therapies.