Amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a hallmark peptide in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, together with the amyloid-β protein precursor, is increasingly associated with the disruption of cell adhesion. In addition to its well-characterized role in plaque formation and synaptic dysfunction, Aβ interacts with various adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix components, thereby impairing neuronal connectivity and integrity. We have shown that pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells with Aβ42 fibrils affects cell adhesion; however, we did not observe this effect with Aβ42 monomers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which Aβ fibrils disrupt cell adhesion pathways may reveal new therapeutic approaches to prevent disease progression.
Fonović et al. (Wed,) studied this question.