What role(s) may extracellular matrix, particularly heparan sulfate, play in amyloid of Alzheimer's disease.

The authors of this article present and attempt to substantiate the thesis that proteoglycan(s), mainly heparan sulfate, are an important ingredient in the pathogenesis of the amyloid found in persons with Alzheimer's disease. Evidence presented indicates that glycosaminoglycans are regular constituents of many amyloid substances including that of senile plaques and congophilic angiopathy of Alzheimer's disease. It is proposed that the proteoglycans play a role in amyloidogenesis by one or a combination of the following mechanisms: 1) inducing amyloid fibrils containing a predominant beta-pleated sheet structure, 2) influencing amyloid deposition to occur at specific tissue sites and/or 3) prevent amyloid degradation.