The alternative splicing of the apolipoprotein E gene is unperturbed in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.

The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasing rapidly worldwide due to an ageing population and a lack of disease modifying therapeutics. In monogenic forms of AD mutations lead to the accumulation of neurotoxic peptides called beta-amyloid. Beta-amyloid accumulation is also postulated to precipitate sporadic AD although the pathogenesis of this common form remains largely unknown.

Perturbation of human coronary artery endothelial cell redox state and NADPH generation by methylglyoxal.

Diabetes is associated with elevated plasma glucose, increased reactive aldehyde formation, oxidative damage, and glycation/glycoxidation of biomolecules. Cellular detoxification of, or protection against, such modifications commonly requires NADPH-dependent reducing equivalents (e.g.

Microglial proliferation in the brain of chronic alcoholics with hepatic encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of chronic alcoholism and patients show neurological symptoms ranging from mild cognitive dysfunction to coma and death. The HE brain is characterized by glial changes, including microglial activation, but the exact pathogenesis of HE is poorly understood. During a study investigating cell proliferation in the subventricular zone of chronic alcoholics, a single case with widespread proliferation throughout their adjacent grey and white matter was noted.

Methylglyoxal-induced modification of arginine residues decreases the activity of NADPH-generating enzymes.

Inadequate control of plasma and cellular glucose and ketone levels in diabetes is associated with increased generation of reactive aldehydes, including methylglyoxal (MGO). These aldehydes react with protein side chains to form advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Arg residues are particularly susceptible to MGO glycation and are essential for binding NADP(+) in several enzymes that generate NADPH, a coenzyme for many critical metabolic and antioxidant enzymes.