Endocytic pathway abnormalities in Alzheimer disease

Kohei Yuyama, Katsuhiko Yanagisawa

Department of Alzheimer's Disease Research, National Institute for Longevity Sciences,
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology

Endocytosis is universally important in cell function. In the brain, the role of endosomes are relatively more complex due to the polar morphology of neurons and specialized needs for inter-cellular communication. For the last dacade, endocytic abnormalities, including morphological alternations of endsomal compartments and increased expressions of endocytosis-related molecules, were observed as early pathologic feature of sporadic Alzheimer disease and Down syndrome. In this review, we disscuss how endocytic pathway impairment may promote Aβ assembly in AD, concerning APP-processing Aβ generation and the formation of GM1 ganglioside-bound Aβ.

Address correspondence to Dr. Katsuhiko Yanagisawa, Department of Alzheimer's Disease Research, National Institute for Longevity Sciences, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (36-3 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8522, Japan)