Abstract
Glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE) and cycloprolylglycine (cPG) are naturally cleaved peptides of the insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) in the central nervous system. The neuroprotective actions of IGF-I have been widely studied in experimental models of Alzheimer´s disease (AD) and AD patients. However, there is less data about the molecular mechanisms involved in the protective effects of both IGF-I derived peptides in murine models of this disease. Here, we have analyzed the key issues of our study on the effects of GPE and cPG in a murine model of amyloid-β peptide infusion and revised the research progress on the effects of both compounds and new analogues of these molecules against inflammation, its relationship with the expression and synthesis of hormones implicated in memory processes and the intracellular signaling pathways related to these protective effects. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the action of these molecules in experimental models of AD will help to develop strategies to fight one of the most common neurological diseases.
Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease, β-amyloid, GPE, Cycloprolylglycine, Inflammation, Neuroprotection, Signaling, Somatostatin