Internal tandem duplication of the Feline McDonough Sarcoma (FMS)-like tyrosine kinase 3 (-ITD) is one of the most clinically relevant mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with a high -ITD allelic ratio (AR) (≥0.5) being strongly associated with poor prognosis. -ITDs are heterogeneous, varying in size and location, with some patients having multiple -ITDs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFγ-Secretases are a family of intramembrane-cleaving proteases involved in various signaling pathways and diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Cells co-express differing γ-secretase complexes, including two homologous presenilins (PSENs). We examined the significance of this heterogeneity and identified a unique motif in PSEN2 that directs this γ-secretase to late endosomes/lysosomes via a phosphorylation-dependent interaction with the AP-1 adaptor complex.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Immunotherapy targeting amyloid-β peptide is under active clinical investigation for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among the hypotheses being investigated for impact on clinical outcome are the preferred epitope or conformation of amyloid-β to target for treatment, and the mechanism of action underlying immunotherapy. Bapineuzumab (humanized 3D6), a neo-epitope specific antibody recognizing amyloid-β1-5 with strong preference for an exposed Asp residue at the N-terminus of the peptide, has undergone advanced clinical testing for treatment of AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe loss of synapses is a strong histological correlate of the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), exerts detrimental effects on synapses, a process thought to be causally related to the cognitive deficits in AD. Here, we used in vivo two-photon microscopy to characterize the dynamics of axonal boutons and dendritic spines in APP/Presenilin 1 (APP(swe)/PS1(L166P))-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerein, we describe our strategy to design metabolically stable γ-secretase inhibitors which are selective for inhibition of Aβ generation over Notch. We highlight our synthetic strategy to incorporate diversity and chirality. Compounds 30 (ELND006) and 34 (ELND007) both entered human clinical trials.
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