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Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Mantle, Gavin Falkous, Emeritus Professor Elaine Perry
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Neuronal death associated with plaque and tangle formation characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may result from an underlying defect of intracellular protein catabolism. In an attempt to identify the proteolytic enzyme types responsible for aberrant protein processing, we have composed the levels of activity of proline endopeptidase in brain tissue samples (grey/white matter) from frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, from normal control cases, and cases with AD, Lewy body dementia (LED), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). The activity of proline endopeptidase was significantly reduced in AD to similar to 65% of that of corresponding control tissue - this is of note since previous biochemical analyses have in general failed to detect altered activity of other protease types in AD tissues. However, this relatively selective reduction in proline endopeptidase activity in AD tissue (in terms of protease types investigated) is not specific for disease type, since activity was also reduced (65%-70% of control) in tissue samples from LED, PD and HD cases, The data suggest that reduction in proline endopeptidase activity may be a characteristic of a generalized process of neurodegeneration, Although the precise cellular function of this enzyme in normal/pathological tissues remains to be determined, the question arises as to whether pharmacological strategies designed to enhance proline endopeptidase activity in brain tissue may improve patient outcome in the above disorders.
Author(s): Mantle D, Falkous G, Ishiura S, Blanchard PJ, Perry EK
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Clinica Chimica Acta
Year: 1996
Volume: 249
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 129-139
Print publication date: 01/05/1996
ISSN (print): 0009-8981
ISSN (electronic): 1873-3492
Publisher: Elsevier
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0009-8981(96)06282-1
DOI: 10.1016/0009-8981(96)06282-1
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