Rohn Troy T, Head Elizabeth
Department of Biology, Science/Nursing Building, Room 228, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA.
Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2009;2(2):108-18. Epub 2008 Jun 10.
Mounting evidence suggests the involvement of caspases in the disease process associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The activation of caspases may be responsible for the neurodegeneration associated with AD and several recent studies have suggested that caspases may also play a role in promoting pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disease. Thus, caspase activation and cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and tau may facilitate both the production of beta-amyloid (Abeta) as well as the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Because the activation of caspases in AD may be a proximal event that is not just associated with neurodegeneration, caspases are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of this disorder. In this review, studies documenting the role of caspases in the AD brain will be discussed. In this context, a discussion of the therapeutic value of targeting caspase inhibition in the treatment of AD will be evaluated including drug targets, delivery and selectivity.
越来越多的证据表明，半胱天冬酶参与了与阿尔茨海默病（AD）相关的疾病进程。半胱天冬酶的激活可能是导致AD相关神经退行性变的原因，最近的几项研究表明，半胱天冬酶也可能在促进该疾病的致病机制中发挥作用。因此，半胱天冬酶的激活以及淀粉样前体蛋白（APP）和tau蛋白的裂解可能会促进β-淀粉样蛋白（Aβ）的产生以及神经原纤维缠结（NFTs）的形成。由于AD中半胱天冬酶的激活可能是一个不仅与神经退行性变相关的近端事件，因此半胱天冬酶是治疗这种疾病的潜在治疗靶点。在这篇综述中，将讨论记录半胱天冬酶在AD大脑中作用的研究。在此背景下，将评估靶向半胱天冬酶抑制在AD治疗中的治疗价值，包括药物靶点、给药方式和选择性。
