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Secretory processing of amyloid precursor protein is inhibited by increase in cellular cholesterol content
Racchi M, Baetta R, Salvietti N, Ianna P, Franceschini G, Paoletti R, Fumagalli R, Govoni S et al.. The Biochemical journal, 1997-03-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plasma-membrane composition plays a crucial role in most of the cellular functions that depend on membrane processes. In virtually all cell types the proteolytic processing of Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate soluble APP (sAPP) is believed to occur at the plasma membrane or in its immediate proximity. Alteration of this metabolic pathway has been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Racchi, M., Baetta, R., Salvietti, N., Ianna, P., Franceschini, G., Paoletti, R., et al. (1997). Secretory processing of amyloid precursor protein is inhibited by increase in cellular cholesterol content. The Biochemical journal. https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3220893
Vancouver
Racchi M, Baetta R, Salvietti N, Ianna P, Franceschini G, Paoletti R, et al. Secretory processing of amyloid precursor protein is inhibited by increase in cellular cholesterol content. The Biochemical journal. 1997. doi:10.1042/bj3220893. PMID: 9148766.
BibTeX
@article{racchi1997-9148766,
author = {Racchi, M. and Baetta, R. and Salvietti, N. and Ianna, P. and Franceschini, G. and Paoletti, R. and Fumagalli, R. and Govoni, S. and others},
title = {{Secretory processing of amyloid precursor protein is inhibited by increase in cellular cholesterol content}},
journal = {The Biochemical journal},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1042/bj3220893},
pmid = {9148766},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1042/bj3220893}
}
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Key findings
- In virtually all cell types the proteolytic processing of Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate soluble APP (sAPP) is believed to occur at the plasma membrane or in its immediate proximity.
- Alteration of this metabolic pathway has been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
- We analysed the effect of membrane cholesterol enrichment on APP metabolism.
- Incubation of COS cells with increasing concentrations of non-esterified cholesterol carried by rabbit beta-very low-density lipoprotein caused a dose-dependent inhibition of sAPP release: 70% inhibition with 10 microg/ml non-esterified cholesterol.
Why it matters
In COS cells, raising cellular cholesterol reduced the processing of amyloid precursor protein into soluble APP. This is laboratory cell work and does not show a treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
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 Biochemical journal) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Biochemical Journal: journal h-index 402 (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 | 1997 — 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 154 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.0 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Maurizio R. Soma: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Milan: institution h-index 1,023 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9148766) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
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Also tagged “precursor”
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