The role of glutathione peroxidase enzymes in Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Introduction and aim. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects mainly the elderly. Among the variety of factors contributing to the pathogenesis of AD, oxidative stress has emerged as a key factor in the initiation and progression of the disease. Glutathione peroxidases (GPxs) are enzymes that are known to play a critical role in maintaining cellular redox balance. To this end, the present narrative review aims to explore the role of GPx enzymes in AD and discuss their contribution to oxidative stress pathways and AD pathogenesis. Literature search. PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant literature. No specific inclusion and exclusion criteria were used due to the narrative nature of the review. Analysis of the literature. Available records suggest a strong association between oxidative stress and the pathological features of AD, including amyloid-β aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. The enzyme isoforms GPx1, GPx3, and GPx4 have been implicated in AD pathogenesis. Conclusions: GPx enzymes play an important protective role in AD. Despite promising preclinical evidence, more translational research is required to clarify the therapeutic and biomarker potential of GPxs in AD.