The Implication of Androgens in the Presence of Protein Kinase C to Repair Alzheimer’s Disease-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction

Authors
Sara Amiri 1
Kayhan Azadmanesh 2
Marzieh Dehghan Shasaltaneh 3
Vafa Mayahi 4
Nasser Naghdi 1
1 Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
4 Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
10.29252/ibj.24.2.64
Abstract
Aging, as a major risk factor of memory deficiency, affects neural signaling pathways in hippocampus. In particular, age-dependent androgens deficiency causes cognitive impairments. Several enzymes like protein kinase C (PKC) are involved in memory deficiency. Indeed, PKC regulatory process mediates α-secretase activation to cleave APP in β-amyloid cascade and tau proteins phosphorylation mechanism. Androgens and cortisol regulate PKC signaling pathways, affecting the modulation of receptor for activated C kinase 1. Mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling pathway depends on CREB activity in hippocampal neurons and is involved in regulatory processes via PKC and androgens. Therefore, testosterone and PKC contribute in the neuronal apoptosis. The present review summarizes the current status of androgens, PKC, and their influence on cognitive learning. Inconsistencies in experimental investigations related to this fundamental correlation are also discussed, with emphasis on the mentioned contributors as the probable potent candidates for learning and memory improvement.
Keywords
Androgens
Cognition
Hippocampus
Protein kinase C
Spatial memory