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Review
. 2010 Apr;9(2):149-55.
doi: 10.2174/187152710791012099.

Impact of the CD40-CD40L dyad in Alzheimer's disease

Brian Giunta  1 , Kavon Rezai-Zadeh, Jun Tan
Affiliations
Review

Impact of the CD40-CD40L dyad in Alzheimer's disease

Brian Giunta et al. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

As the number of elderly individuals rises, Alzheimer's disease (AD), marked by amyloid-beta deposition, neurofibrillary tangle formation, and low-level neuroinflammation, is expected to lead to an ever-worsening socioeconomic burden. AD pathoetiologic mechanisms are believed to involve chronic microglial activation. This phenomenon is associated with increased expression of membrane-bound CD40 with its cognate ligand, CD40 ligand (CD40L), as well as increased circulating levels of soluble forms of CD40 (sCD40) and CD40L (sCD40L). Here, we review the role of this inflammatory dyad in the pathogenesis of AD. In addition, we examine potential therapeutic strategies such as statins, flavonoids, and human umbilical cord blood transplantation, all of which have been shown to modulate CD40-CD40L interaction in mouse models of AD. Importantly, therapeutic approaches focusing on CD40-CD40L dyad regulation, either alone or in combination with amyloid-beta immunotherapy, may provide for a safe and effective AD prophylaxis or treatment in the near future.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Model for CD40-CD40L inflammatory dyad in the pathogenesis and potential treatment of AD. See text for references.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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