Amyloid- Receptors: The Good, the Bad, and the Prion Protein

Several different receptor proteins have been identified that bind monomeric, oligomeric, or fibrillar forms of amyloid- (A). Good receptors internalize A or promote its transcytosis out of the brain, whereas bad receptors bind oligomeric forms of A that are largely responsible for the synapticloss, memory impairments, and neurotoxicity that underlie Alzheimer disease. The prion protein both removes A from the brain and transduces the toxic actions of A. The clustering of distinct receptors in cell surface signaling platforms likely underlies the actions of distinct oligomeric species of A. These A receptor-signaling platforms provide opportunities for therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer disease.