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Amyloidogenic processing of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein depends on lipid rafts
Ehehalt R, Keller P, Haass C, Thiele C, Simons K.. The Journal of cell biology, 2003-01-06
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Formation of senile plaques containing the beta-amyloid peptide (A beta) derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is an invariant feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). APP is cleaved either by beta-secretase or by alpha-secretase to initiate amyloidogenic (release of A beta) or nonamyloidogenic processing of APP, respectively. A key to understanding AD is to unravel how access of these enzymes to APP is regulated.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ehehalt, R., Keller, P., Haass, C., Thiele, C., & Simons, K. (2003). Amyloidogenic processing of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein depends on lipid rafts. The Journal of cell biology. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200207113
Vancouver
Ehehalt R, Keller P, Haass C, Thiele C, Simons K. Amyloidogenic processing of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein depends on lipid rafts. The Journal of cell biology. 2003. doi:10.1083/jcb.200207113. PMID: 12515826.
BibTeX
@article{ehehalt2003-12515826,
author = {Ehehalt, R. and Keller, P. and Haass, C. and Thiele, C. and Simons, K.},
title = {{Amyloidogenic processing of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid precursor protein depends on lipid rafts}},
journal = {The Journal of cell biology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1083/jcb.200207113},
pmid = {12515826},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200207113}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- APP is cleaved either by beta-secretase or by alpha-secretase to initiate amyloidogenic (release of A beta) or nonamyloidogenic processing of APP, respectively.
- A key to understanding AD is to unravel how access of these enzymes to APP is regulated.
- Here, we demonstrate that lipid rafts are critically involved in regulating A beta generation.
- Reducing cholesterol levels in N2a cells decreased A beta production.
Why it matters
This study found that lipid rafts are critically involved in regulating amyloid-beta generation, and reducing cholesterol levels in cells decreased amyloid-beta production. These were cell-based experiments, so it is not yet known whether targeting lipid rafts or cholesterol would help treat or prevent Alzheimer's disease in people.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of cell biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | The Journal of Cell Biology: journal h-index 597 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 1,108 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 44.3 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 39.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 32 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 78 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Kai Simons: h-index 155 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München: institution h-index 1,224 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12515826) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200207113
- PubMed: 12515826
- Original source →
- Free full text: Europe PMC (PubMed Central) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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