Abstract
Glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)-amide (GLP-1) is an endogenous insulinotropic peptide that is secreted from the gastrointestinal tract in response to food. It enhances pancreatic islet β-cell proliferation and glucose-dependent insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose and food intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. GLP-1 receptors, which are coupled to the cyclic AMP second messenger pathway, are expressed throughout the brains of rodents and humans. It was recently reported that GLP-1 and exendin-4, a naturally occurring, more stable analogue of GLP-1 that binds at the GLP-1 receptor, possess neurotrophic properties and can protect neurons against glutamate-induced apoptosis. We report here that GLP-1 can reduce the levels of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the brain in vivo and can reduce levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in cultured neuronal cells. Moreover, GLP-1 and exendin-4 protect cultured hippocampal neurons against death induced by Aβ and iron, an oxidative insult. Collectively, these data suggest that GLP-1 can modify APP processing and protect against oxidative injury, two actions that suggest a novel therapeutic target for intervention in Alzheimer's disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 603-612 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Journal of Neuroscience Research |
Volume | 72 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2003 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Alzheimer's disease
- Apoptosis
- NGF
- Oxidative stress
- PC12 cell
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Neuroscience