Amyloid beta-peptide inhibits Na+-dependent glutamate uptake

The purpose of this review is to summarize much of the work on the inhibiti on of the astroglial glutamate transporter in relation to excitotoxic neuro degeneration, in particular, inhibition of uptake by the beta-amyloid pepti de (A beta) found in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain. There is evidence for oxidative stress in the AD brain, and A beta has been found to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus adding to the stress or possibly initi ating it. The oxidative inhibition of the glutamate transporter protein by A beta increases the vulnerability of glutamatergic neurons, and by renderi ng them susceptible to the excitotoxic insult that results from impaired gl utamate uptake, A beta can be directly connected to the neurodegeneration t hat follows.