Thus, the erratic pattern of microtubule tortuosity and
disarray together with apparent efforts at microtubule regeneration may reflect abnormal hyperactivity of this M3-linked second messenger system and consequent disruption of its protein phosphorylation functions. Since other unknown second messenger systems are also hyperactivated simultaneously in the same neuron, these systems may also contribute to the cytoskeletal disruption pattern. Neurofibrillary tangles and psychosis could be associated through NRHypo We are beginning to study the possible relationship between this cytoskeletal disruption process in the NRHypo model and NFTs, its potential counterpart Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in the AD brain. Thus far, we have not detected ultrastructural evidence of paired helical filaments. Even if such evidence cannot be found, this might signify species specificity of this particular abnormality without disqualifying the NRHypo degenerative process as a valid model of the mechanism giving rise to NFT in the human AD Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical brain. Thus, our findings in the rat are consistent with the conclusion that NRHypo alone can produce many of the neuropathological
features of AD. The observations that NRHypo can produce psychotic Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical symptoms, as well as potentially contribute to NFT formation, suggest that psychosis could be associated with NFT burden in AD patients. We recently tested this hypothesis in a postmortem sample of AD Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical patients and found that, after controlling for the severity of dementia, neocortical NFT EPZ-6438 in vivo counts
were increased in patients with AD who experienced psychotic symptoms in comparison to patients who did not.151 Amyloidopathy and NRHypo Most investigators of amyloidosis have tended to focus exclusively on the potential of beta-amyloid to kill neurons by itself Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical without, reference to its potential pathological interaction with NMDA receptors. We think the focus should be redirected. Beta-amyloid alone is not. toxic except at very high concentrations, whereas at substantially lower concentrations beta-amyloid causes cultured neurons to become hypersensitive to Glu until or NMDA excitotoxicity.152-154 We propose, therefore, that predisposing factors (eg, apoE4 genotype in sporadic AD, amyloidogenic mutations in familial AD) promote amyloidosis which, in turn, increases the sensitivity of NMDA receptors so that even normal concentrations of Glu can trigger abnormal currents, which on a chronic low-grade excitotoxic basis can destroy NMDA receptor-bearing neurons. Loss of these neurons and their NMDA receptors increases the NRHypo burden in the aging brain. Other factors such as oxidative stress and disturbances in energy metabolism may also contribute to beta-amyloid’s augmentation of neuronal sensitivity to Glu.