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Humanin

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Abstract

Humanin (HN) is a novel neuroprotective factor that consists of 24 amino acid residues. HN suppresses neuronal cell death caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-specific insults, including both amyloid-β (βAβ) peptides and familial AD-causative genes. Cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells are also protected from Aβ toxicity by HN, suggesting that HN affects both neuronal and non-neuronal cells when they are exposed to AD-related cytotoxicity. HN peptide exerts a neuroprotective effect through the cell surface via putative receptor(s). HN activates a cellular signaling cascade that intervenes (at least) in activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase. The highly selective effect of HN on AD-relevant cell death indicates that HN is promising for AD therapy. Additionally, a recent study showed that intracellularly overexpressed HN suppressed mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting Bax activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Pharmacology and Anatomy, KEIO University School of Medicine, Medical Research Building, 160-8582, Tokyo, Japan

    Takako Niikura, Tomohiro Chiba, Sadakazu Aiso, Masaaki Matsuoka & Ikuo Nishimoto

Authors
  1. Takako Niikura
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  2. Tomohiro Chiba
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  3. Sadakazu Aiso
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  4. Masaaki Matsuoka
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  5. Ikuo Nishimoto
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Correspondence to Takako Niikura or Masaaki Matsuoka.

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Niikura, T., Chiba, T., Aiso, S. et al. Humanin. Mol Neurobiol 30, 327–340 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1385/MN:30:3:327

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/MN:30:3:327

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