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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 575/1/5    most recent jphysiol.2006.111203v2 jphysiol.2006.111203v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pearson, H. A. Articles by Peers, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pearson, H. A. Articles by Peers, C. Related Collections Review articles

Faculties of
¹ Biological Sciences
² Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK

Alzheimer's disease is recognized post mortem by the presence of extracellular senile plaques, made primarily of aggregation of amyloid ß peptide (Aß). This peptide has consequently been regarded as the principal toxic factor in the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease. As such, intense research effort has been directed at determining its source, activity and fate, primarily with a view to preventing its formation or its biological activity, or promoting its degradation. Clearly, much progress has been made concerning its formation by proteolytic processing of the amyloid precursor protein, and its degradation by enzymes such as neprilysin and insulin degrading enzyme. The activities of Aß, however, are numerous and yet to be fully elucidated. What is currently emerging from such studies is a diffuse but steadily growing body of data that suggests Aß has important physiological functions and, further, that it should only be regarded as toxic when its production and degradation are imbalanced. Here, we review these data and suggest that physiological levels of Aß have important physiological roles, and may even be crucial for neuronal cell survival. Thus, the view of Aß being a purely toxic peptide requires re-evaluation.

(Received 7 April 2006; accepted after revision 22 June 2006; first published online 29 June 2006)
Corresponding author H. A. Pearson: Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. Email: h.a.pearson{at}leeds.ac.uk

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