Hongpaisan Research

Sen A, Hongpaisan J. Hippocampal microvasculature changes in association with oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease. Free Radic Biol Med. 2018; 120:192-203. PMID: 29572097.

We demonstrated distinct microvascular wall thickening as well as different levels of oxidative stress and amyloidosis in hippocampal neurons in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains with and without the complex of cerebrovascular disease (microinfarct and infarct).

Sen A, Nelson TJ, Alkon DL, Hongpaisan J. Loss in PKCe causes downregulation of MnSOD and BDNF expression in neurons of Alzheimer's disease hippocampus. J Alzheimers Dis. 2018; 63(3):1173-1189. PMID: 29710707.

The interplay between Aß and oxidative stress on PKCe and cell survival is demonstrated. The PKCe activator induces an increase in MnSOD, which prevents oxidative stress, as well as in BDNF production, which protects neuronal loss.    

Hongpaisan J, Xu C, Sen A, Nelson TJ, Alkon DL. PKCe activation during training restores mushroom spine synapses and memory in the aged rat. Neurobiol Dis. 2013; 55:44-62. PMID: 23545166.

This work shows a decrease of PKCe in neurons of aged rats with memory impairment. The PKCe activator can restore synaptic loss and the formation of mushroom-shaped densritic spines that are important for memory retention.

Hongpaisan J, Sun MK, Alkon DL. PKCe activation prevents synaptic loss, Aß elevation, and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice. J Neurosci. 2011; 31(2):630-43. PMID: 21228172.

This article confirms our previous study showing a decrease in PKCe in autopsy-confirmed human AD hippocampus in AD transgenic mice. The PKCe activator can protect synaptic loss and spatial memory defect.