Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimers Disease and Other Conformational Diseases

Masahiro      Kawahara

doi:10.2174/1567205043332234

Abstract

Conformational changes of Alzheimers β-amyloid protein (AβP) enhance its neurotoxicity and play important roles in the pathogenesis of Alzheimers disease. Recent studies have suggested that a common mechanism is based on diverse “conformational diseases”. They share similarity in their formation of β-sheet containing amyloid fibrils by disease-related proteins and the introduction of apoptotic degeneration. Numerous studies, including our own, have revealed that AbP and several disease-related proteins are capable of directly incorporating into membranes, forming calcium-permeable ion channels, and causing abnormal elevation of intracellular calcium levels. This article reviews the current understanding of the pathology of conformational diseases based on the hypothesis that the disruption of calcium homeostasis through amyloid channels may form the molecular basis of neurotoxicity of AβP and other disease-related proteins. The roles of membrane lipids and potential development of preventive agents are also discussed.

Keywords: pore, cholesterol, neurotoxicity, prion disease, calcium imaging

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