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Gaspar B, Ramalho M, Guerra A. Seminal vesicles in focus: An illustrated overview. Curr Probl Diagn Radiol 2024; 53:624-640. [PMID: 38692935 DOI: 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Seminal vesicles play a crucial role in the male reproductive system, as they are responsible for secreting a fluid that forms most of the ejaculate. Seminal vesicles' pathology can present with non-specific symptoms, making imaging diagnosis essential for proper patient management. Various imaging modalities can be used to evaluate these glands, with MRI beneficial in illustrating the spectrum of seminal vesicle disease. Typical seminal vesicles appear as elongated fluid-containing structures, but congenital anomalies, inflammatory conditions, and neoplastic disorders can alter their appearance. Furthermore, differentiating mimics from actual pathology can be challenging but crucial for proper management. This article aims to provide an overview of the typical imaging appearance of the seminal vesicles and illustrate the principal imaging characteristics of conditions involving these structures. It will review the imaging characteristics of common and uncommon lesions involving the seminal vesicles by exploring congenital, infectious, and neoplastic in detail. As the seminal vesicles are often evaluated incidentally during prostate imaging, radiologists should be aware of the variability of normal findings and recognize the principal pathologies affecting these structures to ensure proper patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Gaspar
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal.
| | - Miguel Ramalho
- Department of Radiology, Hospital da Luz, Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Gupta S, Herrera-Hernandez L, Erickson LA. Amyloid Involving the Seminal Vesicles. Mayo Clin Proc 2022; 97:1213-1214. [PMID: 35662435 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sounak Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - Lori A Erickson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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3
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LOCALIZED AMYLOIDOSIS OF THE SEMINAL TRACT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMIC AMYLOIDOSIS. Urology 2021; 164:46-49. [DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2021.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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4
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Al-Obaidy KI, Grignon DJ. Primary Amyloidosis of the Genitourinary Tract. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 145:699-703. [PMID: 32383975 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0102-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— Amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of misfolded proteins as insoluble eosinophilic material in the extracellular tissues of the body, leading to impairment of organ function. It can be systemic or localized. Localized genitourinary tract amyloidosis is rare and can be incidentally seen; however, in some cases, it can be the only presenting disease. OBJECTIVE.— To review the clinical presentation and pathologic findings related to primary amyloidosis of the urogenital system and highlight some of the associated pathologic findings based on our personal experience. DATA SOURCES.— Published peer-reviewed literature and personal experience of the senior author. CONCLUSIONS.— Primary localized amyloidosis within the urogenital tract can present as a neoplastic process and may be clinically and radiologically considered as a mass. Awareness of primary amyloidosis by pathologists and clinicians is required for accurate diagnosis and proper patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaleel I Al-Obaidy
- From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
| | - David J Grignon
- From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
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5
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Satturwar S, Monaco SE, Xing J, Brand RE, Pantanowitz L. Bizarre benign cells in peri-rectal endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration due to seminal vesicle sampling. Diagn Cytopathol 2020; 48:586-588. [PMID: 32191821 DOI: 10.1002/dc.24415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Swati Satturwar
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Sara E Monaco
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Juan Xing
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Randall E Brand
- Department of Gastroenterology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Liron Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
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6
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Moir RD, Lathe R, Tanzi RE. The antimicrobial protection hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2018; 14:1602-1614. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert D. Moir
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit; MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease; Department of Neurology; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Charlestown MA USA
| | - Richard Lathe
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine; University of Edinburgh; Little France Edinburgh UK
| | - Rudolph E. Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit; MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease; Department of Neurology; Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Charlestown MA USA
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7
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Eimer WA, Vijaya Kumar DK, Navalpur Shanmugam NK, Rodriguez AS, Mitchell T, Washicosky KJ, György B, Breakefield XO, Tanzi RE, Moir RD. Alzheimer's Disease-Associated β-Amyloid Is Rapidly Seeded by Herpesviridae to Protect against Brain Infection. Neuron 2018; 99:56-63.e3. [PMID: 30001512 PMCID: PMC6075814 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 388] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) fibrilization and deposition as β-amyloid are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. We recently reported Aβ is an innate immune protein that protects against fungal and bacterial infections. Fibrilization pathways mediate Aβ antimicrobial activities. Thus, infection can seed and dramatically accelerate β-amyloid deposition. Here, we show Aβ oligomers bind herpesvirus surface glycoproteins, accelerating β-amyloid deposition and leading to protective viral entrapment activity in 5XFAD mouse and 3D human neural cell culture infection models against neurotropic herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and human herpesvirus 6A and B. Herpesviridae are linked to AD, but it has been unclear how viruses may induce β-amyloidosis in brain. These data support the notion that Aβ might play a protective role in CNS innate immunity, and suggest an AD etiological mechanism in which herpesviridae infection may directly promote Aβ amyloidosis.
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MESH Headings
- Alzheimer Disease/metabolism
- Alzheimer Disease/virology
- Amyloid beta-Peptides/metabolism
- Amyloidosis/metabolism
- Amyloidosis/virology
- Animals
- Brain/metabolism
- Brain/virology
- Cells, Cultured
- Disease Models, Animal
- Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex/metabolism
- Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex/virology
- Encephalitis, Viral/metabolism
- Encephalitis, Viral/virology
- Herpesviridae
- Herpesvirus 1, Human
- Herpesvirus 6, Human
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neurofibrillary Tangles/metabolism
- Neurons
- Plaque, Amyloid/metabolism
- Roseolovirus Infections/metabolism
- Roseolovirus Infections/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Eimer
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Deepak Kumar Vijaya Kumar
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Nanda Kumar Navalpur Shanmugam
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Alex S Rodriguez
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Teryn Mitchell
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Kevin J Washicosky
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Bence György
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Xandra O Breakefield
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
| | - Robert D Moir
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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Díaz-Flores L, Gutiérrez R, García MDP, Gayoso MJ, Carrasco JL, Díaz-Flores L, Álvarez-Argüelles H. Localized amyloidosis of the epididymis: a previously unreported phenomenon. Diagn Pathol 2017; 12:58. [PMID: 28778176 PMCID: PMC5544985 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-017-0646-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Localized amyloidosis has not been documented in the epididymis; we report this phenomenon for the first time. CASE PRESENTATION The first aim of this work is to report three cases of localized epididymal amyloidosis. Two cases were clinically detected as epididymal nodules, and a third after reviewing 120 epididymides obtained with neighbouring pathological processes. Amyloid deposits showed Congo red positivity, with yellow-green birefringence, and immunohistochemical expression for light chains kappa and lambda, transthyretin, amyloid P and cytokeratin AE1 AE3. No immunoreactivity for amyloid A was seen. Amyloid deposit location was intraluminal, with partial or total loss of the epididymal epithelium and subsequent passage to the interstitium, forming large masses. No amyloid deposits were observed around blood vessels. A secondary objective was to explore in normal epididymis the amyloid tested in epididymal amyloidosis. In normal epididymides, expression of amyloid P and transthyretin was detected in the apical surface of epithelial cells. Amyloid P also showed strong expression in spermatozoa. CONCLUSION We contribute the existence of localized epididymal amyloidosis, which presents a distinctive, initial intratubular location, where there is a unique proteome and where functional amyloids act during sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Díaz-Flores
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Ofra-La Cuesta, s/n, La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain.
| | - Ricardo Gutiérrez
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Ofra-La Cuesta, s/n, La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | | | - Manuel Jose Gayoso
- Department of Cell Biology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Carrasco
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Ofra-La Cuesta, s/n, La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Lucio Díaz-Flores
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Ofra-La Cuesta, s/n, La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
| | - Hugo Álvarez-Argüelles
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of La Laguna, Ofra-La Cuesta, s/n, La Laguna, 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
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9
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Rath-Wolfson L, Bubis G, Shtrasburg S, Shvero A, Koren R. Seminal Tract Amyloidosis: Synchronous Amyloidosis of the Seminal Vesicles, Deferent Ducts and Ejaculatory Ducts. Pathol Oncol Res 2017; 23:811-814. [PMID: 28097620 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-017-0193-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Senile Seminal Vesicle Amyloidosis (SSVA) increases with age. Involvement of the whole seminal tract, i.e. the seminal vesicles, ejaculatory and deferent ducts was first reported by us in the International Symposium on Amyloidosis 1998. Since then we encountered four more cases of SSVA. In all these cases the ejaculatory and deferent ducts were also involved by amyloid. The amyloid was located mostly sub-epithelially, stained positively with Congo red, gave green birefringence under polarized light and was permanganate sensitive, slightly positive for lactoferrin immunostaining and negative for all known amyloid types. In recent years the amyloid was found to be derived from Semenogelin I, a major constituent of the seminal fluid which is present in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle and vas deference. This would explain the deposition of amyloid not only in the seminal vesicles but also in the deferent an ejaculatory ducts which transport the seminal fluid. In a review of the literature we found three more articles on SSVA in which the amyloid was not limited to the seminal vesicles alone. We propose to designate this type of amyloid as "Senile seminal Tract Amyloidosis" (SSTA) instead of "Senile Seminal Vesicle Amyloidosis (SSVA)".
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Rath-Wolfson
- Department of Pathology Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Golan Bubis
- Medicine Program, St. George's University of London, University of Nicosia, 93 Agiou Nikolau Street, Egnomi 2408, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Shmuel Shtrasburg
- Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Asaf Shvero
- Department of Urology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
| | - Rumelia Koren
- Department of Pathology Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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10
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Takahashi N, Glockner J, Howe BM, Hartman RP, Kawashima A. Taxonomy and Imaging Manifestations of Systemic Amyloidosis. Radiol Clin North Am 2016; 54:597-612. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rcl.2015.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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11
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Westermark P. Localized Amyloidoses and Amyloidoses Associated with Aging Outside the Central Nervous System. CURRENT CLINICAL PATHOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-19294-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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12
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Yang Z, Laird A, Monaghan A, Seywright M, Ahmad I, Leung HY. Incidental seminal vesicle amyloidosis observed in diagnostic prostate biopsies--are routine investigations for systemic amyloidosis warranted? Asian J Androl 2012; 15:149-51. [PMID: 23223033 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2012.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal vesicle (SV) amyloidosis is a well-documented histological entity, but it is observed infrequently. Its incidence is on the rise, which is probably related to the increasing use of prostate biopsies to investigate patients with elevated serum prostate-specific antigen levels. Here, we report seven cases of incidental SV amyloidosis over a 3-year period and consider their relationship to the previously suggested aetiological factors. Based on our series, we conclude that incidental localized SV amyloidosis observed in diagnostic prostate biopsies does not warrant formal investigations for systemic amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichu Yang
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland G12 8QQ, UK
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13
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Kagan BL, Jang H, Capone R, Arce FT, Ramachandran S, Lal R, Nussinov R. Antimicrobial properties of amyloid peptides. Mol Pharm 2012; 9:708-17. [PMID: 22081976 PMCID: PMC3297685 DOI: 10.1021/mp200419b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
More than two dozen clinical syndromes known as amyloid diseases are characterized by the buildup of extended insoluble fibrillar deposits in tissues. These amorphous Congo red staining deposits known as amyloids exhibit a characteristic green birefringence and cross-β structure. Substantial evidence implicates oligomeric intermediates of amyloids as toxic species in the pathogenesis of these chronic disease states. A growing body of data has suggested that these toxic species form ion channels in cellular membranes causing disruption of calcium homeostasis, membrane depolarization, energy drainage, and in some cases apoptosis. Amyloid peptide channels exhibit a number of common biological properties including the universal U-shape β-strand-turn-β-strand structure, irreversible and spontaneous insertion into membranes, production of large heterogeneous single-channel conductances, relatively poor ion selectivity, inhibition by Congo red, and channel blockade by zinc. Recent evidence has suggested that increased amounts of amyloids not only are toxic to its host target cells but also possess antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, at least one human antimicrobial peptide, protegrin-1, which kills microbes by a channel-forming mechanism, has been shown to possess the ability to form extended amyloid fibrils very similar to those of classic disease-forming amyloids. In this paper, we will review the reported antimicrobial properties of amyloids and the implications of these discoveries for our understanding of amyloid structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce L. Kagan
- Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A
| | - Hyunbum Jang
- Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, U.S.A
| | - Ricardo Capone
- Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Material Science Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, U.S.A
| | - Fernando Teran Arce
- Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Material Science Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, U.S.A
| | - Srinivasan Ramachandran
- Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Material Science Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, U.S.A
| | - Ratnesh Lal
- Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Material Science Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, U.S.A
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Center for Cancer Research Nanobiology Program, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, U.S.A
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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The Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid beta-protein is an antimicrobial peptide. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9505. [PMID: 20209079 PMCID: PMC2831066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 740] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2009] [Accepted: 01/20/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background 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.
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