Glutamate receptors in preclinical research on Alzheimer's disease: update on recent advances
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2012Citation:
Neng-Wei Hu, Tomas Ondrejcak, Michael J. Rowan, Glutamate receptors in preclinical research on Alzheimer's disease: update on recent advances, Pharmacology, 100, 4, 2012, 855 862Download Item:
Glutamate receptors in preclinical research on Alzheimer's disease- update on recent advances.pdf (Published (author's copy) - Peer Reviewed) 457.3Kb
Abstract:
The cognitive and related symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are mainly attributable to synaptic failure. Here we review recent research on how the Alzheimer's disease amyloid ?-protein (A?) affects glutamate receptors and fast excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity of that transmission. L-glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, has long been implicated in causing NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity leading to neurodegeneration in the late stages of the disease. However there is now extensive evidence that soluble A? oligomers disrupt synaptic transmission and especially synaptic plasticity via non-excitotoxic glutamatergic mechanisms. New data highlight the relatively selective involvement of certain glutamate receptor subtypes including GluN2B (NR2B) subunit-containing NMDA receptors and mGlu5 receptors. A? exerts direct and indirect effects on synaptic plasticity-related glutamate receptor signaling and trafficking between different neuronal compartments. For example, A?-induced ectopic NMDA and mGlu receptor-mediated signaling coupled with caspase-3 activation may cause inhibition of long-term potentiation and facilitation of long-term depression. Intriguingly, some of the disruptive synaptic actions of A? have been found to be dependent on endogenous tau located in dendrites or spines. Given the role of glutamatergic transmission in regulating A? production and release, future therapies targeting glutamate offer the opportunity to remedy both mis-processing of A? and cellular mechanisms of synaptic failure in early AD.
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Health Research Board (HRB)
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
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http://people.tcd.ie/mrowanhttp://people.tcd.ie/ondrejct
http://people.tcd.ie/hunw
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PUBLISHEDType of material:
Journal ArticleSeries/Report no:
Pharmacology100
4
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Full text availableKeywords:
Pharmacology, Alzheimer's diseaseSubject (TCD):
Ageing , NeuroscienceLicences: