Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

09:00
Biochemical Purification and Proteomic Characterization of Amyloid Fibril Cores from the Brain
Published on: April 28, 2022
Astrocytoma-Specific Prognostic Associations of Amyloid-Related Biological Processes
Felix Y Narvaez Irizarry1, Tyrel R Porter1, Neisha Ramirez Serrano1
1Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Central del Caribe, Bayamon, PR 00956, USA.
Summary
Amyloid pathways differ between glioma types. Increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and clearance correlate with worse survival in astrocytoma, but not oligodendroglioma.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Molecular biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Amyloid-related pathways are crucial in neurodegenerative diseases but understudied in gliomas.
- This study investigates amyloid transcriptional programs in low-grade gliomas (astrocytoma grades II-III) and oligodendrogliomas.
- The association between these pathways and patient survival is examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze histology-specific expression patterns of amyloid-related pathways in diffuse gliomas.
- To determine the prognostic significance of these pathways in relation to patient survival.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets within amyloid metabolism for glioma treatment.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic data from 193 grade II-III astrocytomas and 191 oligodendrogliomas were analyzed.
- Differential and single-sample gene set enrichment analyses (ssGSEA) were employed to assess amyloid-related pathway activity.
- Pathway-level survival analyses were conducted to evaluate associations with overall survival.
Main Results:
- Distinct amyloid-related transcriptional programs were identified between astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas.
- Astrocytomas showed enrichment in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and clearance pathways.
- Oligodendrogliomas were enriched in lipid transport and negative regulation of amyloid formation pathways.
- Higher activity in APP biosynthesis and amyloid-β clearance by transcytosis pathways correlated with worse survival in grade II-III astrocytoma, but not oligodendroglioma.
Conclusions:
- Amyloid-related transcriptional programs significantly differ between diffuse glioma subtypes.
- Upregulated APP biosynthesis and amyloid-β transcytosis pathways are linked to poorer survival in grade II-III astrocytoma.
- These findings suggest a role for amyloid metabolism in glioma progression and highlight APP-related pathways as potential therapeutic targets.
Related Concept Videos
Amyloid Fibrils
Amyloid fibrils are aggregates of misfolded proteins. Under most circumstances, misfolded proteins are either refolded by chaperone proteins or degraded by the proteasome. However, in the case of a mutation or a disease, these proteins can accumulate to form large clusters and often further assemble to form elongated fibers, called fibrils.
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen. In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining, normally used to...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...

