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dc.contributor.authorKirby, James Edward
dc.contributor.authorWashicosky, Kevin J.
dc.contributor.authorTucker, Stephanie M.
dc.contributor.authorIngelsson, Martin
dc.contributor.authorHyman, Bradley Theodore
dc.contributor.authorBurton, Mark A.
dc.contributor.authorGoldstein, Lee E.
dc.contributor.authorDuong, Scott
dc.contributor.authorTanzi, Rudolph Emile
dc.contributor.authorMoir, Robert D.
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-14T00:59:06Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.identifier.citationSoscia, Stephanie J., James E. Kirby, Kevin J. Washicosky, Stephanie M. Tucker, Martin Ingelsson, Bradley Hyman, Mark A. Burton, Lee E. Goldstein, Scott Duong, Rudolph E. Tanzi, and Robert D. Moir. 2010. The Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid β-protein is an antimicrobial peptide. PLoS ONE 5, no. 3: e9505.en_US
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:8160863
dc.description.abstractBackground: The amyloid β-protein (Aβ) is believed to be the key mediator of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Aβ is most often characterized as an incidental catabolic byproduct that lacks a normal physiological role. However, Aβ has been shown to be a specific ligand for a number of different receptors and other molecules, transported by complex trafficking pathways, modulated in response to a variety of environmental stressors, and able to induce pro-inflammatory activities. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we provide data supporting an in vivo function for Aβ as an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Experiments used established in vitro assays to compare antimicrobial activities of Aβ and LL-37, an archetypical human AMP. Findings reveal that Aβ exerts antimicrobial activity against eight common and clinically relevant microorganisms with a potency equivalent to, and in some cases greater than, LL-37. Furthermore, we show that AD whole brain homogenates have significantly higher antimicrobial activity than aged matched non-AD samples and that AMP action correlates with tissue Aβ levels. Consistent with Aβ-mediated activity, the increased antimicrobial action was ablated by immunodepletion of AD brain homogenates with anti-Aβ antibodies. Conclusions/Significance: Our findings suggest Aβ is a hitherto unrecognized AMP that may normally function in the innate immune system. This finding stands in stark contrast to current models of Aβ-mediated pathology and has important implications for ongoing and future AD treatment strategies.en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_US
dc.relation.isversionofdoi://10.1371/journal.pone.0009505en_US
dc.relation.hasversionhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831066/pdf/en_US
dash.licenseLAA
dc.subjectimmunologyen_US
dc.subjectinnate immunityen_US
dc.subjectmicrobiologyen_US
dc.subjectneurological disordersen_US
dc.subjectAlzheimer's diseaseen_US
dc.titleThe Alzheimer’s Disease-Associated Amyloid β-Protein Is an Antimicrobial Peptideen_US
dc.typeJournal Articleen_US
dc.description.versionVersion of Recorden_US
dc.relation.journalPLoS ONEen_US
dash.depositing.authorTanzi, Rudolph Emile
dc.date.available2012-02-14T00:59:06Z
dash.affiliation.otherHMS^Neurology-Massachusetts General Hospitalen_US
dash.affiliation.otherHMS^Neurology-Massachusetts General Hospitalen_US
dash.affiliation.otherHMS^Neurology-Massachusetts General Hospitalen_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1371/journal.pone.0009505*
dash.contributor.affiliatedKirby, James
dash.contributor.affiliatedHyman, Bradley
dash.contributor.affiliatedMoir, Robert
dash.contributor.affiliatedTanzi, Rudolph


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