Another study investigating methylene blue as a treatment option for Alzheimer's disease.
Sun et al. (2016) Attenuation of synaptic toxicity and MARK4/PAR1-mediated Tau phosphorylation by methylene blue for Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Scientific Reports 6:34784
MB effects were explored in Drosophila larvae and 293T cells (human kidney cells).
"Although MARK has been shown to play an important role in Tauopathy, no MARK specific inhibitor has been developed except for one study reporting the use of a peptide inhibitor derived from the CagA protein of Helicobacter pylori [20]. In this study, we provide evidence both in vivo and in vitro that MARK4 and its Drosophila homolog PAR1 are putative targets of MB. Previous studies have identified multiple targets of MB including Tau itself, but none has explored its effects on Tau kinases. Our mechanistic study revealed both down regulation of kinase protein level and inhibition of kinase activity. These findings emphasized the importance of Tau kinase MARK4 as a therapeutic target and identified novel mechanisms of action by MB as an AD drug."
Sun et al. (2016) Attenuation of synaptic toxicity and MARK4/PAR1-mediated Tau phosphorylation by methylene blue for Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Scientific Reports 6:34784
MB effects were explored in Drosophila larvae and 293T cells (human kidney cells).
"Although MARK has been shown to play an important role in Tauopathy, no MARK specific inhibitor has been developed except for one study reporting the use of a peptide inhibitor derived from the CagA protein of Helicobacter pylori [20]. In this study, we provide evidence both in vivo and in vitro that MARK4 and its Drosophila homolog PAR1 are putative targets of MB. Previous studies have identified multiple targets of MB including Tau itself, but none has explored its effects on Tau kinases. Our mechanistic study revealed both down regulation of kinase protein level and inhibition of kinase activity. These findings emphasized the importance of Tau kinase MARK4 as a therapeutic target and identified novel mechanisms of action by MB as an AD drug."
