Divergent Age-Dependent Conformational Rearrangement within Aβ Amyloid Deposits in APP23, APPPS1, and Mice.

Amyloid plaques composed of fibrils of misfolded Aβ peptides are pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ fibrils are polymorphic in their tertiary and quaternary molecular structures. This structural polymorphism may carry different pathologic potencies and can putatively contribute to clinical phenotypes of AD.

Prominent microglial inclusions in transgenic mouse models of α-synucleinopathy that are distinct from neuronal lesions.

Alpha-synucleinopathies are a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by intracellular deposits of aggregated α-synuclein (αS). The clinical heterogeneity of these diseases is thought to be attributed to conformers (or strains) of αS but the contribution of inclusions in various cell types is unclear. The aim of the present work was to study αS conformers among different transgenic (TG) mouse models of α-synucleinopathies.

Synthesis of a Novel Curcumin Derivative as a Potential Imaging Probe in Alzheimer's Disease Imaging.

Background: Curcumin has been of interest in the field of Alzheimer's disease. Early studies on transgenic mice showed promising results in the reduction of amyloid plaques.However, curcumin is very poorly soluble in aqueous solutions and not easily accessible to coupling as it contains only phenolic groups as potential coupling sites.

Early Aβ reduction prevents progression of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Objective: Clinical trials targeting β-amyloid peptides (Aβ) for Alzheimer disease (AD) failed for arguable reasons that include selecting the wrong stages of AD pathophysiology or Aβ being the wrong target. Targeting Aβ to prevent cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has not been rigorously followed, although the causal role of Aβ for CAA and related hemorrhages is undisputed. CAA occurs with normal aging and to various degrees in AD, where its impact and treatment is confounded by the presence of parenchymal Aβ deposition.

Phenolic Bis-styrylbenzo[ c]-1,2,5-thiadiazoles as Probes for Fluorescence Microscopy Mapping of Aβ Plaque Heterogeneity.

A fluorescent bis-styryl-benzothiadiazole (BTD) with carboxylic acid functional groups (X-34/Congo red analogue) showed lower binding affinity toward Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 fibrils than its neutral analogue. Hence, variable patterns of neutral OH-substituted bis-styryl-BTDs were generated. All bis-styryl-BTDs showed higher binding affinity to Aβ1-42 fibrils than to Aβ1-40 fibrils.