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Anti‐amyloidogenic activity of tetracyclines: studies in vitro
Author(s) -
Forloni Gianluigi,
Colombo Laura,
Girola Laura,
Tagliavini Fabrizio,
Salmona Mario
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)02380-2
Subject(s) - doxycycline , amyloid (mycology) , chemistry , peptide , fibril , in vitro , tetracycline , trypsin , antibiotics , biochemistry , biophysics , enzyme , biology , inorganic chemistry
Cerebral deposition of β‐amyloid is a major neuropathological feature in Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that tetracyclines, tetracycline and doxycycline, classical antibiotics, exhibit anti‐amyloidogenic activity. This capacity was determined by the exposure of β 1‐42 amyloid peptide to the drugs followed by the electron microscopy examination of the amyloid fibrils spontaneously formed and quantified with thioflavine T binding assay. The drugs reduced also the resistance of β 1‐42 amyloid fibrils to trypsin digestion. Tetracyclines not only inhibited the β‐amyloid aggregates formation but also disassembled the pre‐formed fibrils. The results indicate that drugs with a well‐known clinical profile, including activity in the central nervous system, are potentially useful for Alzheimer's therapy.