Amyloid-beta 42 oligomer (Aβ42O) (Aβ42O)

Amyloid-beta 42 (Aβ42) oligomers are soluble, intermediate aggregates of the Aβ42 peptide that are widely considered the most neurotoxic species in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis [PubMed: 18552858]. Unlike insoluble fibrils that form plaques, these soluble oligomers can diffuse throughout the brain parenchyma, where they disrupt synaptic plasticity and inhibit long-term potentiation [PubMed: 21415372]. They exert toxicity by binding to various neuronal receptors, inducing oxidative stress, and triggering neuroinflammatory responses through microglial activation [PubMed: 30612801]. In the context of drug development, Aβ42 oligomers have become a primary therapeutic target, as evidence suggests that neutralizing these species may slow cognitive decline more effectively than targeting monomers or mature plaques [PubMed: 36630463]. Several monoclonal antibodies, such as lecanemab, have been designed to selectively bind these soluble aggregates to facilitate their clearance from the brain [PubMed: 33531305]. Monitoring the efficacy of such treatments often involves measuring changes in cerebrospinal fluid Aβ levels or utilizing amyloid PET imaging to track the reduction of amyloid burden [PubMed: 32726801].

Other names

Soluble amyloid-beta oligomersAβ42 oligomersAmyloid-beta 1-42 oligomersAβOToxic Aβ oligomersAmyloid-beta protofibrils

Monoclonal antibody binding to soluble oligomers and protofibrils, facilitating microglial-mediated phagocytosis and preventing the disruption of synaptic function [PubMed: 36630463].