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The amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing as a biological link between Alzheimer's disease and cancer
Fernando Galvão1, Kamila Castro Grokoski2, Bruno Batista da Silva3
1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas: Fisiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Abstract:
Aging is a risk factor for several illnesses, such as Alzheimer's Disease and various cancers. However, an inverse correlation between malignancies and Alzheimer's Disease has been suggested. This review addressed the potential role of non-amyloidogenic and amyloidogenic pathways of amyloid precursor protein processing as a relevant biochemical mechanism to clarify this association. Amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways have been related to Alzheimer's Disease and certain malignancies, respectively. Several known molecules involved in APP processing, including its regulation and final products, were summarized. Among them some candidate mechanisms emerged, such as extracellular-regulated kinase (Erk) and protein kinase C (PKC). Therefore, the imbalance of APP processing may be involved with the negative correlation between cancer and Alzheimer Disease.