β-Amyloid-acetylcholine molecular interaction: new role of cholinergic mediators in anti-Alzheimer therapy?

Background: For long time Alzheimer's disease has been attributed to a cholinergic deficit. More recently, it has been considered dependent on the accumulation of the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ), which promotes neuronal loss and impairs neuronal function. Results/methodology: In the present study, using biophysical and biochemical experiments we tested the hypothesis that in addition to its role as a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine may exert its action as an anti-Alzheimer agent through a direct interaction with Aβ. Conclusion: Our data provide evidence that acetylcholine favors the soluble peptide conformation and exerts a neuroprotective effect against the neuroinflammatory and toxic effects of Aβ. The present paper paves the way toward the development of new polyfunctional anti-Alzheimer therapeutics capable of intervening on both the cholinergic transmission and the Aβ aggregation.