Liposomes functionalized with acidic lipids rescue Aβ-induced toxicity in murine neuroblastoma cells

The loss of synapses and neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is thought to be at least partly induced by toxic species formed by the amyloid beta (A beta) peptide; therefore, therapeutics aimed at reducing A beta toxicity could be of clinical use for treatment of AD. Liposomes are suitable vehicles for therapeutic agents and imaging probes, and a promising way of targeting the various A beta forms. We tested liposomes functionalized with phosphatidic acid, cardiolipin, or GM1 ganglioside, previously shown to have high A beta-binding capacity. Mimicking A beta-induced toxicity in mouse neuroblastoma cell lines, combined with administration of cell viability-modulating agents, we observed that functionalized liposomes rescued cell viability to different extents. We also detected rescue of the imbalance of GSK-3 beta and PP2A activity, and reduction in tau phosphorylation. Thus, these liposomes appear particularly suitable for implementing further therapeutic strategies for AD. From the Clinical Editor: In this paper, Bereczki and her colleagues present functionalized liposomes targeting amyloid beta peptide, which may pave the way to disease modifying agent development in neurodegenerative conditions related to amyloid beta accumulation, including Alzheimer's disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.