Abstract
Alzheimers disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a devastating cognitive decline. The disease is identified pathologically by amyloid plaques composed of aggregated amyloid-β peptide, neurofibrillary tangles composed of aggregated, hyperphosphorylated tau protein and neuron loss. While the disease was first described in 1906, transgenic mouse models for the study of Alzheimers disease pathologies have only been available to scientists for fifteen years. Despite the generation of many different mouse models that develop amyloid plaques or neurofibrillary tangles, it has only been in recent years that mouse models demonstrating the two pathologies together have been made. Also, neuron loss has been difficult to achieve in many models. Most recently, several transgenic mouse lines have been generated that do demonstrate all three pathological characteristics of Alzheimers disease: amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuron loss. This review will focus on the advances made in our understanding of Alzheimers disease pathology using the transgenic mouse models. It will also discuss the limitations associated with studying some of these mice and how transgenic mouse models have contributed to the development of therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimers disease.
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, transgenic, amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, amyloid precursor protein
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets
Title: The Usefulness and Challenges of Transgenic Mouse Models in the Study of Alzheimers Disease
Volume: 9 Issue: 4
Author(s): Donna M. Wilcock
Affiliation:
Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, transgenic, amyloid, neurofibrillary tangles, neurodegeneration, amyloid precursor protein
Abstract: Alzheimers disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a devastating cognitive decline. The disease is identified pathologically by amyloid plaques composed of aggregated amyloid-β peptide, neurofibrillary tangles composed of aggregated, hyperphosphorylated tau protein and neuron loss. While the disease was first described in 1906, transgenic mouse models for the study of Alzheimers disease pathologies have only been available to scientists for fifteen years. Despite the generation of many different mouse models that develop amyloid plaques or neurofibrillary tangles, it has only been in recent years that mouse models demonstrating the two pathologies together have been made. Also, neuron loss has been difficult to achieve in many models. Most recently, several transgenic mouse lines have been generated that do demonstrate all three pathological characteristics of Alzheimers disease: amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neuron loss. This review will focus on the advances made in our understanding of Alzheimers disease pathology using the transgenic mouse models. It will also discuss the limitations associated with studying some of these mice and how transgenic mouse models have contributed to the development of therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimers disease.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
M. Wilcock Donna, The Usefulness and Challenges of Transgenic Mouse Models in the Study of Alzheimers Disease, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2010; 9 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152710791556168
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152710791556168 |
Print ISSN 1871-5273 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1996-3181 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system infectious diseases
Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) can be divided into bacterial, tuberculous, viral, fungal, parasitic infections, etc. Early etiological treatment is often the most crucial means to reduce the mortality rate of patients with central nervous system infections, reduce complications and sequelae, and improve prognosis. The initial clinical ...read more
Trends and perspectives in the rational management of CNS disorders
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases enforce a significant global health burden, driving ongoing efforts to improve our understanding and effectiveness of therapy. This issue investigates current advances in the discipline, focusing on the understanding as well as therapeutic handling of various CNS diseases. The issue covers a variety of diseases, ...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
Related Articles
-
Probenecid: An Emerging Tool for Neuroprotection
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets mGluR5 Positive and Negative Allosteric Modulators Differentially Affect Dendritic Spine Density and Morphology in the Prefrontal Cortex
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Anticholinesterase Activity of Three Local Food Spices and Their Anti-Alzheimer Application
Current Nutraceuticals Brain Insulin Resistance and Deficiency as Therapeutic Targets in Alzheimers Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Cell Clocks and Neuronal Networks: Neuron Ticking and Synchronization in Aging and Aging-Related Neurodegenerative Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Protein Conformational Misfolding and Amyloid Formation: Characteristics of a New Class of Disorders that Include Alzheimers and Prion Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Commentary: Functional Neuronal CB2 Cannabinoid Receptors in the CNS
Current Neuropharmacology Nanotechnology for Alzheimer Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Current Drug Targets for Modulating Alzheimer's Amyloid Precursor Protein: Role of Specific Micro-RNA Species
Current Medicinal Chemistry Is there a Rational Approach for Increasing Drug Specificity? Considerations on CNS Target Choice and Validation
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Pharmacology and Toxicology of Cannabis Derivatives and Endocannabinoid Agonists
Recent Patents on CNS Drug Discovery (Discontinued) Recent Developments in the Understanding and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders Involving Protein Conformational Misfolding and Amyloid Formation
Medicinal Chemistry Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Understanding Effects of Psychological Stress on Physiology and Disease Through Human Stressome - An Integral Algorithm
Current Bioinformatics Involvement of the Septo-Hippocampal Cholinergic Pathway in Association with Septal Acetylcholinesterase Upregulation in a Mouse Model of Tauopathy
Current Alzheimer Research β-Synuclein Assembly as a Therapeutic Target of Parkinsons Disease and Related Disorders
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies in Spinobulbar Muscular Atrophy
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Brain: The Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Target for Glaucoma
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Synthesis of Propargylamines by Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling
Current Green Chemistry Autism: Pathophysiology and Promising Herbal Remedies
Current Pharmaceutical Design Activated Immune System and Inflammation in Healthy Ageing: Relevance for Tryptophan and Neopterin Metabolism
Current Pharmaceutical Design