ArticlePloS one2010
The Alzheimer's disease-associated amyloid beta-protein is an antimicrobial peptide.
Article in PloS one, 2010. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 585 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
585 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 1,013 citations in OpenAlex.
- Alzheimer's early detection in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome: a systematic review and expert consensus on preclinical assessments.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2023Pooled it
- Is Periodontitis Associated with Age-Related Cognitive Impairment? The Systematic Review, Confounders Assessment and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Pooled it
- The lithium-magnesium-zinc axis under stress: regulation of N-glycosylation-linked proteostasis and Alzheimer's disease.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Hospital-treated infection associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology: underlying mechanisms.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Review
- Pathological or preventative? Amyloid-β as an effector of innate immunity.Infection and immunity · 2026Review
- The γ-secretase complex: from discovery to a therapeutic target.RSC chemical biology · 2026Review
- Active Vaccination Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease: An Expanded Review.European journal of immunology · 2026Review
- High reelin expression may explain why a subgroup of entorhinal cortex neurons functions as an initial nucleation site of Alzheimer's disease.PLoS computational biology · 2026Article
- Deep learning reveals antimicrobial peptides within prions.Nature microbiology · 2026Article
- Article
- Lactoferrin Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid Exhibit Differential Associations with Alzheimer's Disease.Research square · 2026Article
- Beyond association: A quantitative analysis of the infectious burden in Alzheimer's disease.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2026Article
- β-Amyloid (Aβ) and Human Cathelicidin LL-37: Two Sides of the Same Coin?International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Protein Modifications and Quality Control System: Target for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Dynamic thermodynamic-informational entropic relationship (TIER) models of selective vulnerability to neurodegeneration.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Metatranscriptomic Reanalysis of Alzheimer's Brains Identifies Low-Biomass Microbial Signals Including Enrichment ofInternational journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Monocolonization withMicrobiology spectrum · 2026Article
- Bidirectional relationship between the biofilm ofMicrobiology spectrum · 2026Article
- The dysregulation of innate immunity by Porphyromonas gingivalis in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease.Journal of internal medicine · 2026Review
- Unmasking the hidden catalyst: How infections trigger Alzheimer's disease.Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD · 2026Review
525 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundThe amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) is believed to be the key mediator of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Abeta is most often characterized as an incidental catabolic byproduct that lacks a normal physiological role. However, Abeta has been shown to be a specific ligand for a number of different receptors and other molecules, transported by complex trafficking pathways, modulated in response to a variety of environmental stressors, and able to induce pro-inflammatory activities. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL
findingsHere, we provide data supporting an in vivo function for Abeta as an antimicrobial peptide (AMP). Experiments used established in vitro assays to compare antimicrobial activities of Abeta and LL-37, an archetypical human AMP. Findings reveal that Abeta exerts antimicrobial activity against eight common and clinically relevant microorganisms with a potency equivalent to, and in some cases greater than, LL-37. Furthermore, we show that AD whole brain homogenates have significantly higher antimicrobial activity than aged matched non-AD samples and that AMP action correlates with tissue Abeta levels. Consistent with Abeta-mediated activity, the increased antimicrobial action was ablated by immunodepletion of AD brain homogenates with anti-Abeta antibodies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest Abeta is a hitherto unrecognized AMP that may normally function in the innate immune system. This finding stands in stark contrast to current models of Abeta-mediated pathology and has important implications for ongoing and future AD treatment strategies.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.