In vitro cultured neurons for molecular studies correlating apoptosis with events related to Alzheimer disease

Cerebellum. 2003;2(4):270-8. doi: 10.1080/14734220310004289.

Abstract

This short review analyses the possible molecular events linking a general program of death such as apoptosis to highly specific intracellular pathways involving the function and degradation of two proteins--tau and amyloid precursor protein--which in their aggregated state constitute the hallmark of Alzheimer disease. By surveying the recent studies carried out in 'in vitro' neuronal cultures--with special emphasis to cerebellar granule neurons--the apparent correlation between onset of apoptosis, tau cleavage with formation of potential toxic fragments, and activation of an amyloidogenic route are discussed. Within this framework, proteasomes seem to play a crucial role upstream of the proteolytic cascade involving calpain(s) and caspase(s) by contributing to tau and amyloid precursor protein-altered breakdown and consequent tendency to aggregation of their degradation fragments. Thus, apoptotic death due to altered supply of anti apoptotic agents, neurotrophic factors, deafferentiation or other causes, may constitute a major trigger of the onset of Alzheimer disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Neurobiology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism
  • tau Proteins / chemistry
  • tau Proteins / genetics
  • tau Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Multienzyme Complexes
  • Ubiquitin
  • tau Proteins
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex