Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China (mainland).
Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China (mainland).
Med Sci Monit. 2019 May 6;25:3329-3335. doi: 10.12659/MSM.914027.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of ß-amyloid peptide 1-42 and phosphorylation of tau protein in the brain. Thus far, the transfer mechanism of these cytotoxic proteins between nerve cells remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that nanoscale extracellular vesicles (exosomes) originating from cells may play important roles in this transfer process. In addition, several genetic materials and proteins are also involved in intercellular communication by the secretion of the exosomes. That proposes novel avenues for early diagnosis and biological treatment in AD, based on exosome detection and intervention. In this review, exosome-related pathways of cytotoxic protein intercellular transfer in AD, and the effect of membrane proteins on exosomes targeting cells are first introduced. The advances in exosome-related biomarker detection in AD are summarized. Finally, the advantages and challenges of reducing cytotoxic protein accumulation via exosomal intervention for AD treatment are discussed. It is envisaged that future research in exosomes may well provide new insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of AD.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种神经退行性疾病，其特征是大脑中β-淀粉样肽 1-42 的积累和 tau 蛋白的磷酸化。到目前为止，这些细胞毒性蛋白在神经细胞之间的转移机制仍不清楚。最近的研究表明，源自细胞的纳米级细胞外囊泡（exosomes）可能在这种转移过程中发挥重要作用。此外，几种遗传物质和蛋白质也通过 exosomes 的分泌参与细胞间通讯。这为基于 exosome 检测和干预的 AD 的早期诊断和生物治疗提出了新的途径。在这篇综述中，首先介绍了 AD 中细胞毒性蛋白细胞间转移的 exosome 相关途径，以及膜蛋白对 exosomes 靶向细胞的影响。总结了 AD 中与 exosome 相关的生物标志物检测的进展。最后，讨论了通过 exosomal 干预减少细胞毒性蛋白积累治疗 AD 的优势和挑战。预计未来对 exosomes 的研究将为 AD 的发病机制、诊断和治疗提供新的见解。
