New research has shown that proteases in the brain are linked with synaptic plasticity, memory, neuro-degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and prion diseases, ischemia and traumatic brain injury, inflammatory and infectious diseases, and tumor progression. Lendeckel (Otto-von-Guericke U.), Hooper (U. of Leeds) and their contributors offer 14 reviews of their current work in the field, including how research on proteases is changing concepts of therapy for Alzheimer's Disease, the role of calpain proteolysis in the etiology of Parkinson's Disease, proteases in CNS infections and inflammation, including how dipeptidyl pepidase IV regulates T-cell function, the role and regulation of proteases in human glioma, neuropeptide processing, several reviews of plasticity and synaptic activity, the role of protease-activated receptors in brain function, and the role of certain proteases and inflammation in multiple sclerosis. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
In all organs of the body, proteases have critical roles to play both in normal development and functioning and in disease states. The brain is no exception to this, with proteases having emerging roles in synaptic plasticity, memory, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and prion diseases, ischemia and traumatic brain injury, inflammatory and infectious diseases, and tumor progression. Proteases in the Brain brings together a wide range of topics under this central theme and highlights the large number of proteases involved in these normal and disease processes.Proteases in the Brain reviews the role and regulation of proteases in, Alzheimer's disease, brain ischemia and traumatic brain injury, human glioma, inflammatory and infectious diseases of the central nervous system, metabolism of the prion protein, modulating synaptic activity, multiple sclerosis, neuronal plasticity and memory consolidation, Parkinson's disease, processing, conversion and inactivation of neuropeptides.Proteases in the Brain is a timely and useful source of information both for those well-versed in the role of proteases in the brain, and for those who are beginning to realize the important role of this family of enzymes in brain function and dysfunction.
