Work

Impact of the CD40-CD40L Dyad in Alzheimers Disease

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: As the number of elderly individuals rises, Alzheimer's disease (AD), marked by amyloid-beta deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and low-level neuroinflammation, is expected to lead to an ever-worsening socioeconomic burden. AD pathoetiologic mechanisms are believed to involve chronic microglial activation. This phenomenon is associated with increased expression of membrane-bound CD40 with its cognate ligand, CD40 ligand (CD40L), as well as increased circulating levels of soluble forms of CD40 (sCD40) and CD40L (sCD40L). Here, we review the role of this inflammatory dyad in the pathogenesis of AD. In addition, we examine potential therapeutic strategies such as statins, flavonoids, and human umbilical cord blood transplantation, all of which have been shown to modulate CD40-CD40L interaction in mouse models of AD. Importantly, therapeutic approaches focusing on CD40-CD40L dyad regulation, either alone or in combination with amyloid-beta immunotherapy, may provide for a safe and effective AD prophylaxis or treatment in the near future.

Source: CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets

DOI: 10.2174/187152710791012099

Authors: Brian Giunta, Kavon Rezai-Zadeh, Jun Tan

Institutions: University of South Florida, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Alzheimer's disease research and treatments

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health