Thinking outside the box about COX-1 in Alzheimer's disease

Neurobiol Dis. 2010 Jun;38(3):492-4. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.02.009. Epub 2010 Mar 2.

Abstract

This article from Coma et al. shows that a salicylic acid derivative Triflusal, a platelet aggregation inhibitor and irreversible inhibitor of COX-1, can correct defects in axonal curvature and cognition in an AD transgenic mouse model (Tg2576) (Coma et al., 2010). Here we discuss the controversy over the role of COX-1 in AD, which has not been considered carefully in part due to the presumed adverse gastrointestinal effects of COX-1 antagonism. However, recent clinical data from this group as well as other groups challenges this assumption that COX-1 antagonism will be associated with side effects. Most importantly this article raises critical questions about the role of COX-1, versus COX-2 versus both in Abeta pathogenesis. The animal model data in this article as well as the recently published trial data suggest that COX-1 may play an important role in early pathogenesis and should not be ignored as a potential target for early intervention.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / immunology
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Central Nervous System Agents / adverse effects
  • Central Nervous System Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cognition Disorders / drug therapy
  • Cognition Disorders / immunology
  • Cognition Disorders / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Salicylates / adverse effects
  • Salicylates / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Central Nervous System Agents
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Salicylates
  • triflusal
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS1 protein, human
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Ptgs1 protein, mouse