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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in Alzheimer’s disease and its pharmaceutical potential Gao, Lina; Zhang, Yun; Sterling, Keenan; Song, Weihong

Abstract

Synaptic abnormalities are a cardinal feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that are known to arise as the disease progresses. A growing body of evidence suggests that pathological alterations to neuronal circuits and synapses may provide a mechanistic link between amyloid β (Aβ) and tau pathology and thus may serve as an obligatory relay of the cognitive impairment in AD. Brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs) play an important role in maintaining synaptic plasticity in learning and memory. Considering AD as a synaptic disorder, BDNF has attracted increasing attention as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutical molecule for AD. Although depletion of BDNF has been linked with Aβ accumulation, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, the exact mechanisms underlying the effect of impaired BDNF signaling on AD are still unknown. Here, we present an overview of how BDNF genomic structure is connected to factors that regulate BDNF signaling. We then discuss the role of BDNF in AD and the potential of BDNF-targeting therapeutics for AD.

Item Metadata

Title
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in Alzheimer’s disease and its pharmaceutical potential
Creator
Gao, Lina; Zhang, Yun; Sterling, Keenan; Song, Weihong
Contributor
Townsend Family Laboratories
Publisher
BioMed Central
Date Issued
2022-01-28
Description
Synaptic abnormalities are a cardinal feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) that are known to arise as the disease progresses. A growing body of evidence suggests that pathological alterations to neuronal circuits and synapses may provide a mechanistic link between amyloid β (Aβ) and tau pathology and thus may serve as an obligatory relay of the cognitive impairment in AD. Brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNFs) play an important role in maintaining synaptic plasticity in learning and memory. Considering AD as a synaptic disorder, BDNF has attracted increasing attention as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutical molecule for AD. Although depletion of BDNF has been linked with Aβ accumulation, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, the exact mechanisms underlying the effect of impaired BDNF signaling on AD are still unknown. Here, we present an overview of how BDNF genomic structure is connected to factors that regulate BDNF signaling. We then discuss the role of BDNF in AD and the potential of BDNF-targeting therapeutics for AD.
Subject
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Alzheimer’s disease; Amyloid β protein; Tau protein; Neuroinflammation; Neuronal apoptosis
Genre
Article
Type
Text
Language
eng
Date Available
2022-03-04
Provider
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
DOI
10.14288/1.0406697
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/2429/80915
Affiliation
Medicine, Faculty of; Non UBC; Psychiatry, Department of
Citation
Translational Neurodegeneration. 2022 Jan 28;11(1):4
Publisher DOI
10.1186/s40035-022-00279-0
Peer Review Status
Reviewed
Scholarly Level
Faculty; Researcher; Other
Copyright Holder
The Author(s)
Rights URI
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Aggregated Source Repository
DSpace

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Rights

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)