Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are some of the most debilitating human illnesses. Research over the past 10 years has pro-vided evidence for a common mechanism of neurodegeneration in which the critical event is the brain accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates. Although it is well established that misfolded proteins play an important role in these diseases, the mechanisms by which they cause cellular and tissue dysfunction are still unknown. To understand the molecular basis of NDs and to develop therapeutic strategies against them, numerous transgenic rodent models have been produced, which reproduce some (but not all) of the features of these dis-eases. Importantly, some NDs are not exclusive to human beings, such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Moreover, other diseases which are associated to aging (e.g. Alzheimers disease) could be studied in aged mammals, which could reproduce the human disease in a more natural way. Although the usefulness of transgenic mice is unquestio nable, the information obtained from natural non-transgenic models could be very valuable to fully understand the pathogenesis of these devastating diseases.
Keywords: Prion, protein misfolding, natural model, non-transgenic, Alzheimer's disease, amyloid, Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), aging, transgenic mice, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Natural Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Protein Misfolding Diseases
Volume: 18 Issue: 8
Author(s): Ines Moreno-Gonzalez and Claudio Soto
Affiliation:
Keywords: Prion, protein misfolding, natural model, non-transgenic, Alzheimer's disease, amyloid, Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), aging, transgenic mice, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies
Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are some of the most debilitating human illnesses. Research over the past 10 years has pro-vided evidence for a common mechanism of neurodegeneration in which the critical event is the brain accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates. Although it is well established that misfolded proteins play an important role in these diseases, the mechanisms by which they cause cellular and tissue dysfunction are still unknown. To understand the molecular basis of NDs and to develop therapeutic strategies against them, numerous transgenic rodent models have been produced, which reproduce some (but not all) of the features of these dis-eases. Importantly, some NDs are not exclusive to human beings, such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Moreover, other diseases which are associated to aging (e.g. Alzheimers disease) could be studied in aged mammals, which could reproduce the human disease in a more natural way. Although the usefulness of transgenic mice is unquestio nable, the information obtained from natural non-transgenic models could be very valuable to fully understand the pathogenesis of these devastating diseases.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Moreno-Gonzalez Ines and Soto Claudio, Natural Animal Models of Neurodegenerative Protein Misfolding Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (8) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212799315768
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212799315768 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Nutrition, Brain Aging, and Alzheimers Disease
Current Nutrition & Food Science Relevance of Aβ 1-42 Intrahippocampal Injection as An Animal Model of Inflamed Alzheimers Disease Brain
Current Alzheimer Research Enhancing Central Nervous System Endogenous GLP-1 Receptor Pathways for Intervention in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Editorial [Hot topic: Adenosine Receptor Ligands: Where Are We, and Where Are We Going? (Guest Editors: Tiziano Tuccinardi and Adriano Martinelli)]
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A and its Role in Cardiovascular Disease. Biology, Experimental/Clinical Evidences and Potential Therapeutic Approaches
Current Vascular Pharmacology Recent Advances in Neuroinflammation Therapeutics: PPARs/LXR as Neuroinflammatory Modulators
Current Pharmaceutical Design Influence of Inosine on Cerebral Hemodynamics in Space Motion Sickness in Experimental Animals
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Possible Hypoxia Signaling Induced Alteration of Glucose Homeostasis in Rats Exposed to Chronic Intermittent Hypoxia - Role of Antioxidant (Vitamin C) and Ca2+ Channel Blocker (Cilnidipine)
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Life and Death of Nerve Cells: Therapeutic Cytokine Signaling Pathways
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Chronic Immune Stimulation Correlates with Reduced Phenylalanine Turnover
Current Drug Metabolism Recent Advances in Endocrine Metabolic Immune Disorders Drug Targeting: An Editorial Overview
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets New Approaches for Antithrombotic Antiplatelet Therapies
Current Medicinal Chemistry Lipoxygenase: An Emerging Target for Stroke Therapy
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Drainage of Cerebral Abscesses Prior to Valve Replacement in Stable Patients with Acute Left-Sided Infective Endocarditis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Potential Therapeutic Drugs and Methods for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Predicted Fold for the Abri Amyloid Subunit: A Model for Amyloidogenesis in Familial British Dementia
Protein & Peptide Letters Do RAS Inhibitors Protect the Brain from Cerebral Ischemic Injury?
Current Hypertension Reviews miR-132 Down-regulates Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) During Cognitive Dysfunction Following Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion
Current Neurovascular Research High-dose Cholecalciferol Supplementation Reducing Morning Blood Pressure in Normotensive DM1 Patients
Current Diabetes Reviews The Metabolic Rationale for a Lack of Cross-reactivity Between Sulfonamide Antimicrobials and Other Sulfonamide-containing Drugs
Drug Metabolism Letters