Pharmacy Practice Faculty Publications
Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by β-Amyloid Is Mediated by Caspase-8
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1999
Journal Title
Neurobiology of Disease
ISSN
0969-9961
Volume
6
Issue
5
First Page
440
Last Page
449
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/nbdi.1999.0268
PubMed ID
10527810
Abstract
The Alzheimer disease-associated β-amyloid peptide has been shown to induce apoptotic neuronal death. In the present study, we test the hypothesis that the apoptotic pathway activated by β-amyloid is similar to the pathway activated by the Fas/TNFR family of death receptors, which requires caspase-8 activity and adaptor proteins such as FADD. We demonstrate that the selective caspase-8 inhibitor IETD-fmk blocks neuronal death induced by β-amyloid. Furthermore, using viral-mediated gene delivery, we show that neurons expressing dominant-negative FADD are protected from apoptosis induced by β-amyloid. Together these results indicate that the apoptotic pathway activated by β-amyloid requires both caspase-8 activity and FADD. These findings further support the hypothesis that β-amyloid might initiate apoptosis by cross-linking death receptors of the Fas/TNFR family.
Keywords
Amyloid beta-peptides, apoptosis, caspase 8, Alzheimer's disease, neurology
Recommended Citation
Ivins, Kathryn J.; Thornton, Phillip L.; Rohn, Troy T.; and Cotman, Carl W., "Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by β-Amyloid Is Mediated by Caspase-8" (1999). Pharmacy Practice Faculty Publications. 239.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/pharmacy_practice_publications/239
