Title:Alzheimer's Disease and NQO1: Is there a Link?
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Author(s): Jamuna Chhetri*, Anna E. King and Nuri Gueven
Affiliation:
- Division of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001,Australia
Keywords:
Alzheimer's disease (AD), NADPH Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), amyloid-β,
mitochondrial dysfunction, neurodegenerative disease.
Abstract: Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by a
progressive decline in cognitive function and represents a major healthcare challenge worldwide. Increasing
evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction mediated oxidative stress plays a significant
role in the pathophysiological process of AD. Therefore, the physiological activation of antioxidant
enzymes that respond to increased oxidative stress is thought to prevent neuropathology. One of those
endogenous defences is NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). NQO1 is a cytosolic homodimeric
flavoprotein that catalyses the two-electron reduction of quinones and related molecules aimed at increasing
their solubility and excretion. In line with its role as a phase II stress response protein, altered
NQO1 expression is associated with several pathological conditions and disorders including AD.
Conclusion: This review summarizes the association between NQO1 and AD pathology. Understanding
this association will provide further insight into the pathogenesis of the disease. More importantly,
recent interest in drugs that affect NQO1 expression or its activity provides hope that this approach
could lead to novel therapeutic options for the treatment of AD.
