Stains & molecular markers
A beta 42
Copyright: 2003-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Abeta42[title]
A beta 42
Author: Nat Pernick, M.D.
Topic Completed: 1 July 2015
Minor changes: 11 December 2020
Copyright: 2003-2021, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Abeta42[title]
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Clinical features | Diagrams / tables | Microscopic (histologic) imagesCite this page: Pernick N. A beta 42. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/stainsabeta42.html. Accessed January 20th, 2021.
Definition / general
- Aβ42 is generated by sequential processing of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta and gamma secretase, which likely has a causative role in Alzheimer's disease (AD)
- Aβ42 is main constituent of amyloid plaque in brains of patients with Alzheimer disease; has 2 common isoforms: Aβ40 is more common, Aβ42 is more amyloidogenic and may lead to formation of plaques (Alzheimers Res Ther 2012;4:9)
- Production of Aβ42 is enhanced by familial AD mutations in presenilin 1 (PS1) and PS2, as well as by some familial AD mutations in APP (J Biol Chem 2011;286:15240)
Clinical features
- Aβ42 is target of therapeutic strategies
- Elevated Aβ42 also occurs in aged, non-demented with cerebral atherosclerosis (Curr Alzheimer Res 2013;10:785)
- CSF levels of Aβ42 may predict clinical progression to AD in some patients (Alzheimers Dement 2012;12:481)
Diagrams / tables
Images hosted on other servers:
Apolipoprotein E / Aβ
interaction pathways and
therapeutic approaches
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease patient
