• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.208-215
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to explain the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate the correlation between AD and microRNA. AD is the most common type of dementia, accounting for about 80% of all types of dementia, causing dysfunction in various daily activities such as memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioral impairment. The typical pathology of AD is explained by the accumulation of beta-amyloid peptide plaques and neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau protein. On the other hand, microRNA is small non-coding RNA 22~23 nucleotides in length that binds to the 3' untranslated region of messenger RNA to inhibit gene expression. Many reports explain that microRNAs found in circulating biofluids are abundant in the central nervous system, are involved in the pathogenic mechanism of AD, and act as important factors for early diagnosis and therapeutic agents of AD. Therefore, this paper aims to clarify the correlation between AD and microRNA. In this review, the basic mechanism of miRNAs is described, and the regulation of miRNAs in the pathological processes of AD are highlighted. Furthermore, we suggest that miRNA-based system in development of therapeutic and diagnostic agents of AD can be a promising tool.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.151.1-151.1
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• 2003

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play many important physiological roles on cellular process through the regulations of intracellular signaling. Recent clinical studies suggest that PUFAs such as n-3 fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6 and a-lnolenic acid, 18:3) may reduce the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease (AD). And also the reports regarding the decrease of n-3 fatty acids in AD brain support the correlation between PUFAs and AD. AD is a neurodegenerative disorder with pathological hallmarks of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. (omitted)

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.149-152
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• 1999

Transgenic mice models of Alzheimer's disease were produced by overexpressing APP(amyloid precursor protein) mutant and presenilin mutant genes using the promotors that induced neuronal expression. The neuropathologies, electrophysiological changes and behavioral changes that were demonstrated in these transgenic mice models were amyloid changes, gliotic changes, A-beta increases, deficit in LTP(long-term potentiation) and behavioral changes. Some or all of the above changes were found in each transgenic mice model. These models generally showed amyloid neuropathology but they usually lacked the neurofibrillary tangles. So, they can be regarded as partial models of Alzheimer's disease. The development of them is undoubtedly the great progress toward future research.

• BMB Reports
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• v.43 no.10
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• pp.649-655
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• 2010

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disorder and shows progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Intraneuronal filaments composed of aggregated hyperphosphorylated tau protein, called neurofibrillary tangles, along with extracellular accumulations of amyloid $\beta$ protein (A$\beta$), called senile plaques, are known to be the neuropathological hallmarks of AD. In light of recent studies, epigenetic modification has emerged as one of the pathogenic mechanisms of AD. Epigenetic changes encompass an array of molecular modifications to both DNA and chromatin, including transcription factors and cofactors. In this review, we summarize how DNA methylation and changes to DNA chromatin packaging by post-translational histone modification are involved in AD. In addition, we describe the role of SIRTs, histone deacetylases, and the effect of SIRT-modulating drugs on AD. Lastly, we discuss how amyloid precursor protein (APP) intracellular domain (AICD) regulates neuronal transcription. Our understanding of the epigenomes and transcriptomes of AD may warrant future identification of novel biological markers and beneficial therapeutic targets for AD.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.95-105
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that is characterized by dementia. Amounts of p25 and cdk5 kinase activity are specifically upregulated in AD patient's brain samples. Considerable evidence now points importance of p25/cdk5 in generation of A$\beta$ peptides and hyperphosphorylation of tau linking amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, two major pathological hallmarks of AD. We demonstrated that P25/CDK5 phosphorylates BACE1, the first step protease to produce A$\beta$. P25/CDK5 inhibitors to reduce BACE1 phosphorylation and the secretion of A$\beta$ are screened through in silica, in vitro, and cell-based assays. Out of 4.3 million chemicals we finally selected two compounds to have IC50 of 10 microM in cell-based assays. The inhibitors block Tau phosphrorylation as well as BACE1 phosphorylation. In conclusion P25 should be one of the best targets for AD therapeutics.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.467-474
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• 2009

The modification of proteins by reversible phosphorylation is a key mechanism in the regulation of various physiological functions. Abnormal protein kinase or phosphatase activity can cause disease by altering the phosphorylation of critical proteins in normal cellular and disease processes. Alzheimer' disease (AD), typically occurring in the elderly, is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. Accumulating evidence suggests that protein kinase and phosphatase activity are altered in the brain tissue of AD patients. Tau is a highly recognized phosphoprotein that undergoes hyperphosphorylation to form neurofibrillary tangles, a neuropathlogical hallmark with amyloid plaques in AD brains. This study is a brief overview of the altered protein phosphorylation pathways found in AD. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the activities of protein kinases and phosphatases are altered as well as the phosphorylation events in AD can potentially reveal novel insights into the role aberrant phosphorylation plays in the pathogenesis of AD, providing support for protein phosphorylation as a potential treatment strategy for AD.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1503-1507
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• 2013

The two major symptoms characterizing Alzheimer's disease are the formation of amyloid-${\beta}$ extracellular deposits in the form of senile plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that consist of pathological hyperphosphorylated tau protein aggregated into insoluble paired helical filaments (PHFs). Neurons of the central nervous system have appreciable amounts of tau protein, a microtubule-associated protein. To maintain an optimal operation of nerves, the microtubules are stabilized, which is necessary to support cell structure and cellular processes. When the modified tau protein becomes dysfunctional, the cells containing misfolded tau cannot maintain cell structure. One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease is hyperphosphorylated tau protein. This paper shows that the small heat shock protein from humans (Hsp27) reduces hyperphosphorylated tau and prevents hyperphosphorylated tau-induced cell death of the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2004

C-terminal fragments of APP (APP-CTs), that contain complete Abeta sequence, are found in neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and the cytosol of lymphoblastoid cells obtained from AD patients. CT16, Lys649-Asp664 (KKQYTSIHHGVVEVD) has been known as the most toxic part in the C-terminal fragment of amyloid precursor protein (APP). The solution structure of CT16 was investigated using NMR spectroscopy in various membrane-mimicking environments. According to Circular Dichroim (CD) spectra, CT16 has a random structure in aqueous solution, while conformational change was induced by addition of TFE and SDS micelle. Tertiary structure as determined by NMR spectroscopy shows that CT16 has a ${\beta}$-turn conformation in trifluoroethanol-containing aqueous solution.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2011

Neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) is a characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. GSK3β has been reported to play a major role in the NFT formation of tau. Dysfunction of autophagy might facilitate the aggregate formation of tau. The present study examined the role of GSK3${\beta}$-mediated phosphorylation of tau species on their autophagic degradation. We transfected wild type tau (T4), caspase-3-cleaved tau at Asp421 (T4C3), or pseudophosphorylated tau at Ser396/Ser404 (T4-2EC) in the presence of active or enzyme-inactive GSK3${\beta}$. Trehalose and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were used to enhance or inhibit autophagic activity, respectively. All tau species showed increased accumulation with 3-MA treatment whereas reduced with trehalose, indicating that tau undergoes autophagic degradation. However, T4C3 and T4-2EC showed abundant formation of oligomers than T4. Active GSK3${\beta}$ in the presence of 3-MA resulted in significantly increased formation of insoluble tau aggregates. These results indicate that GSK3${\beta}$-mediated phosphorylation and compromised autophagic activity significantly contribute to tau aggregation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.53-77
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• 2002

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, which is pathologically characterized by neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles associated with the acetylcholinesterase, apolipoprotein E and butylcholinesterase, and by mutations in the presenilin genes PS1 and PS2, and amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) overexpression. The present research is to examine the inhibitory effect of KGBH on PS1, PS2 and APPs overexpression detected by Western blotting. To verify the Effects of KGBH on cognitive deficits further, we tested it on the scopolamine(1mg/kg)-induced amnesia model of the mice using the Morris water maze tests, and there were ameliorative effects on memory impairment as a protection against scopolamine. KGBH only partially blocked the increase in blood serum level of acetylcholinesterase and Uric acid induced by scopolamine, where as blood glucose level was shown to attenuate the amnesia induced by scopolamine and inreased extracellular serum level. In conclusion, studies of KGBH that has been known as anti-choline and inhibitory ablilities of APPs overexpression, could also be used further as a important research data for a preventive and promising symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer's disease.