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Published on: April 24, 2021
Endoplasmic reticulum stress enhances γ-secretase activity
Kazunori Ohta1, Akihito Mizuno, Shimo Li
1Department of Neurobiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress increases amyloid-beta (Aβ) secretion in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by inducing presenilin-1. This process, linked to obesity and diabetes, is inhibited by quercetin, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for AD.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Metabolic Disease Research
Background:
- Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, triggered by unfolded proteins, activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) via three signaling pathways.
- Obesity and diabetes are risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), potentially accelerating its pathogenesis.
- The specific role of ER stress in AD development remains largely undetermined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the involvement of ER stress in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking ER stress to amyloid-beta (Aβ) production.
- To evaluate the potential of quercetin in mitigating ER stress-induced AD pathology.
Main Methods:
- Investigated the effect of ER stress on presenilin-1 expression.
- Analyzed the role of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) in ER stress-induced pathways.
- Assessed the impact of ER stress on amyloid-beta (Aβ) secretion and γ-secretase activity.
- Examined the modulatory effects of quercetin on UPR signaling and Aβ production.
Main Results:
- ER stress was found to induce presenilin-1 expression, mediated by activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4).
- This induction led to increased amyloid-beta (Aβ) secretion through enhanced γ-secretase activity.
- Quercetin treatment suppressed ER stress-induced Aβ secretion by modifying UPR signaling.
Conclusions:
- ER stress may contribute to AD pathogenesis by upregulating presenilin-1 and subsequently increasing Aβ production.
- Obesity and type 2 diabetes may exacerbate AD by stimulating ER stress and enhancing γ-secretase activity.
- Quercetin shows potential as a therapeutic agent by modulating UPR signaling to reduce Aβ pathology in AD.
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