Metals in medicine: metal-related diseases-Peptide-based chelating drugs in diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer disease

摘要

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neuro-degenerative disorder characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of memory followed by complete dementia. Despite the disease's high prevalence and great economic and social burden, an explicative aetiology or viable cure is still not available. Currently available therapeutics for AD only alleviate its symptoms [1]. TheAD-affected brain suffers from metal-ion homeostasis (metallostasis), resulting in redistribution of metals into inappropriate compartments. This metal disorder gives rise to the production of amyloid-β aggregates (SPs) and oxidative stress, which are two associated signs ofADpathology. To date, all clinical trials targeting amyloid β have failed; however, some clinical trials targeting metal interactions with amyloid b have all shown benefit for patients [2]. In addition, recent data indicate thatmetals play a role more upstream in the disease process than previously thought and might provide new targets for pharmacotherapy [3]. Consequently, targeting metals probably represents a tractable avenue for an AD-modifying therapy.