Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027819 (neuroblastoma)
 27,800 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Apolipoprotein (apo) E is associated with the two characteristic neuropathologic lesions of Alzheimer's disease--extracellular neuritic plaques representing deposits of amyloid beta (A beta) peptide and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles representing filaments of a microtubule-associated protein called tau. Incubation of the apoE4 isoform with the A beta peptide in vitro results in the formation of a dense, stable network of very long monofibrils, while incubation of apoE3 with the A beta peptide results in the formation of a less dense, less stable network. The more complex nature of the plaques formed with the A beta peptide in the presence of apoE4 in vivo may impair the normal clearance process and enhance plaque formation. Alternatively or additionally, apoE may alter the cytoskeletal structure and function and, under certain conditions, may promote the formation of the neurofibrillary tangles. Our studies have demonstrated that apoE3 and apoE4 exert differential effects on neuronal growth (i.e., neurite extension and branching) in vitro. When combined with a source of lipid, apoE3 stimulated neurite extension in peripheral nervous system neurons (dorsal root ganglia), whereas apoE4 inhibited it. Similar results were obtained with central nervous system neurons (murine neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells). Addition of free apoE3 or apoE4 without beta-VLDL had no effect on neurite outgrowth. There was also differential accumulation of apoE3 and apoE4 by the neuroblastoma cells: apoE3 accumulated within cell bodies and neurites to a greater extent than apoE4. Thus, apoE3 may facilitate cytoskeletal activity, whereas apoE4 may inhibit it, which would be detrimental during synaptic remodeling.
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PMID:Apolipoprotein E. Structure, function, and possible roles in Alzheimer's disease. 862 76

The amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) is a toxic derivative of the beta-amyloid precursor protein. Alternative processing of this precursor also yields large soluble forms (APPSs) which are secreted from many cell types. These APPSs have neuritogenic and neuroprotective activities; indeed, APPSs can protect primary neurons from the toxicity of A beta itself. To begin to explore the regulation of gene expression by APPS, we have focused on the NF-kappa B transcription factor family. NF-kappa B is induced by conditions of stress, including cellular oxidation. We report that NF-kappa B can also be induced by APPS. Furthermore, we effected direct activation of NF-kappa B through disinhibition using antisense oligonucleotide technology. This means of activating NF-kappa B resulted in protection of neuroblastoma cells from the toxicity of a calcium ionophore and protection of primary hippocampal neurons from the toxicity of A beta. Together, these data suggest that NF-kappa B may exist as a common agent inducing a neuroprotective pattern of gene expression in response to either trophic cytokines or stress itself.
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PMID:Participation of gene expression in the protection against amyloid beta-peptide toxicity by the beta-amyloid precursor protein. 862 4

The senile plaque in Alzheimer's disease (AD) consists mainly of the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) derived from a family of large integral membrane glycoproteins, beta-amyloid precursor proteins (beta APP). Soluble derivatives of beta APP generated by the proteolytic processing of full-length beta APP are normally secreted into the conditioned medium of cultured cells. Here we have investigated the possibility that the processing of beta APP can be regulated by the cholinesterase inhibitors physostigmine and tacrine. Both drugs mildly improve cognitive functions in some patients with AD. We analyzed the level of beta APP in glial, neuroblastoma, and pheochromocytoma cells by immunoblotting cell lysates and conditioned media using a monoclonal antibody, MAb22C11. The levels of soluble beta APP derivatives normally present in conditioned media were severely inhibited by treating cells with tacrine but not with physostigmine. Whereas the treatment of cells with tacrine resulted in a small decrease in the intracellular levels of beta APP, treating cells with physostigmine resulted in a slight increase in the intracellular levels of beta APP compared to untreated cells. The effect of tacrine on the secretion of beta APP was not affected by cotreating cells with muscarinic agents, staurosporine, or the calcium ionophore. Our results suggest that a decrease in the secretion of beta APP by tacrine did not depend on its anticholinesterase activity and that tacrine operates via a noncholinergic mechanism.
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PMID:Differential effect of tacrine and physostigmine on the secretion of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in cell lines. 883 81

There is evidence available suggesting that membrane alterations occur in Alzheimer's disease including the metabolism of membrane phospholipids. We have quantitated in vitro the phospholipase D activity of homogenates from Alzheimer's disease brain tissue. There was a significant increase of this enzyme activity as compared to controls. Amyloid beta protein is the predominant protein of the characteristic senile plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. Treatment of LA-N-2 cells, a human cholinergic neuroblastoma clone, with amyloid beta protein results in an activation of phospholipases A, C and D.
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PMID:Phospholipid metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and in a human cholinergic cell. 890 82

To study the metabolism of amyloid beta protein (Abeta) in Alzheimer's disease, we have developed a new approach for analyzing the profile of soluble Abeta and its variants. In the present method, Abeta and its variants are immuno-isolated with Abeta-specific monoclonal antibodies. The identities of the Abeta variants are determined by measuring their molecular masses using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The levels of Abeta variants are determined by their relative peak intensities in mass spectrometric measurements by comparison with internal standards of known identities and concentrations. We used this method to examine the Abeta species in conditioned media of mouse neuroblastoma cells transfected with cDNAs encoding wild type or mutant human amyloid precursor protein. In addition to human Abeta-(1-40) and Abeta-(1-42), more than 40 different human Abeta variants were identified. Endogenous murine Abeta and its variants were also identified by this approach. The present approach is a new and sensitive method to characterize the profile of soluble Abeta in conditioned media and biological fluids. Furthermore, it allows direct measurement of each individual peptide in a peptide mixture and provides comprehensive information on the identity and concentration of Abeta and Abeta variants.
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PMID:The profile of soluble amyloid beta protein in cultured cell media. Detection and quantification of amyloid beta protein and variants by immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry. 894 33

We have established a stably transformed human neuroblastoma cell line (MC65) that conditionally expresses a C-terminal derivative of the amyloid beta protein precursor (beta PP) termed S beta C (a fusion protein composed of the amino-17 and carboxyl-99 residues of beta PP). Conditional expression of S beta C (mediated by the withdrawal of tetracycline from the culture medium) induces pronounced nuclear DNA fragmentation and cytotoxicity in this cell line. These effects are enhanced by hyperoxygen and suppressed by hypooxygen and antioxidants. This cell line is relatively insensitive to the extracellular application of amyloid beta 25-35, and coculture experiments suggest that this cytotoxicity is mediated by an intracellular process. These findings suggest that the overexpression of the C-terminal domain of beta PP can disrupt normal cellular processes in these cells in such a way as to induce a directed (deoxyribonuclease-mediated) mechanism of cell death. This process appears to be modulated and/or mediated by a reactive oxygen specie(s) (ROS). Consistent with a role for ROS in the process of S beta C-mediated toxicity, we have found that the MC65 cell line is hypersensitive to oxidative stress and that it is this sensitivity that appears (at least in part) to underlie its susceptibility to S beta C.
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PMID:Neurodegenerative mechanisms in Alzheimer disease. A role for oxidative damage in amyloid beta protein precursor-mediated cell death. 897 93

Studies from several laboratories have generated evidence suggesting that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The finding that the amyloid beta protein (Abeta) has neurotoxic properties and that such effects are, in part, mediated by free radicals has provided insights into mechanisms of cell death in AD and an avenue to explore new therapeutic approaches. In this study we demonstrate that melatonin, a pineal hormone with recently established antioxidant properties, is remarkably effective in preventing death of cultured neuroblastoma cells as well as oxidative damage and intracellular Ca2+ increases induced by a cytotoxic fragment of Abeta. The effects of melatonin were extremely reproducible and corroborated by multiple quantitative methods, including cell viability studies by confocal laser microscopy, electron microscopy, and measurements of intracellular calcium levels. The importance of this finding is that, in contrast to conventional antioxidants, melatonin has a proposed physiological role in the aging process. Secretion levels of this hormone are decreased in aging and more severely reduced in AD. The reported phenomenon may be of therapeutic relevance in AD.
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PMID:Melatonin prevents death of neuroblastoma cells exposed to the Alzheimer amyloid peptide. 903 Jun 27

To gain insights into the significance of presenilins (PS) in the pathogenetic mechanisms of early-onset familial Alzheimer disease (FAD), we expressed cDNAs for wild-type PS2 and PS2 with the Volga German (N141I) mutation in cultured cells and then examined the metabolism of the transfected proteins and their effect on the C-terminal properties of secreted amyloid beta protein (A beta). PS2 was identified as a 50- to 55-kDa protein, which was cleaved to produce N-terminal fragments of 35-40 kDa and C-terminal fragments of 19-23 kDa. The Volga German (N141I) mutation did not cause any significant change in the metabolism of PS2. COS-1 cells doubly transfected with cDNAs for N141I mutant PS2 and human beta-amyloid precursor protein (betaAPP) or a C-terminal fragment thereof, as well as mouse Neuro2a neuroblastoma cells stably transfected with N141I mutant PS2 alone, secreted 1.5- to 10-fold more A beta ending at residues 42 (or 43) [A beta42(43)] compared with those expressing the wild-type PS2. These results strongly suggest that the PS2 mutation (N141I) linked to FAD alters the metabolism of A beta/betaAPP to foster the production of the form of A beta that most readily deposits in amyloid plaques. Thus, mutant PS2 may lead to AD by altering the metabolism of A beta/betaAPP.
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PMID:The presenilin 2 mutation (N141I) linked to familial Alzheimer disease (Volga German families) increases the secretion of amyloid beta protein ending at the 42nd (or 43rd) residue. 912 52

One of the main characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the cerebrovascular deposition of the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta), which is derived from a larger beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta APP). The majority of beta APP is processed by either a secretory of lysosomal/endosomal pathway. Carboxyl-truncated soluble derivatives of beta APP (sAPP) are generated by the proteolytic processing of full-length beta APP by either alpha- or beta-secretase enzyme. Our objective is to determine whether the processing of beta APP can be regulated by cholinesterase inhibitors, some of which were shown to produce a moderate improvement in memory and cognitive functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Here we have analyzed the levels of sAPP derivatives in cultured cells treated with different drugs by immunoblotting samples of conditioned media. The immunoreactive protein bands were developed by probing with the monoclonal antibody 22C11. Treating neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma and fibroblast cells with high dose of either 3,4-diaminopyridine, metrifonate, or physostigmine did not inhibit the secretion of sAPP. Treating glioblastoma with either 3,4-diaminopyridine or metrifonate showed an increase in secretion of sAPP. However, treatment of cells with tacrine reduced release of sAPP in conditioned media of cell lines studied. The difference in action of metrifonate, physostigmine, and tacrine on beta APP is independent of their anticholinesterase activities. Our results suggests that noncatalytic functions of cholinesterase inhibitors can be utilized to alter the metabolism of beta APP, which might in turn affect the process of deposition of A beta, a key component of the cerebrovascular amyloid detected in AD.
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PMID:Effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on the secretion of beta-amyloid precursor protein in cell cultures. 932 15

The amyloid precursor protein may be processed by several different pathways, one of which produces the amyloid beta-peptide betaA4 present in the amyloid plaques characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. A recent report suggested that axonal-amyloid precursor protein is present in a membrane fraction "with caveolae-like properties." In the present study we have isolated detergent-insoluble, caveolae-like membranes from both mouse cerebellum and the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Detergent-insoluble membranes from mouse cerebellum retained nearly all of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins--alkaline phosphatase, 5'-nucleotidase, and the F3 protein--while excluding the majority of the plasmalemmal marker protein alkaline phosphodiesterase I. Although the inositol trisphosphate receptor was highly enriched in this detergent-insoluble fraction, neither amyloid precursor protein nor clathrin immunoreactivity could be detected. Similar results were obtained with SH-SY5Y cells, where 5'-nucleotidase activity was enriched at least 30-fold in the detergent-insoluble membranes, but no amyloid precursor protein or clathrin immunoreactivity could be detected. Caveolin could not be detected in microsomal membranes from either mouse cerebellum or SH-SY5Y cells. These observations suggest that amyloid precursor protein is not normally present in detergent-insoluble, caveolae-like membrane microdomains.
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PMID:The amyloid precursor protein is not enriched in caveolae-like, detergent-insoluble membrane microdomains. 934 65


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