Anti‐amyloidogenic activity of tetracyclines: studies in vitro

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Abstract
Cerebral deposition of β‐amyloid is a major neuropathological feature in Alzheimer's disease. Here we show that tetracyclines, tetracycline and doxycycline, classical antibiotics, exhibit anti‐amyloidogenic activity. This capacity was determined by the exposure of β 1‐42 amyloid peptide to the drugs followed by the electron microscopy examination of the amyloid fibrils spontaneously formed and quantified with thioflavine T binding assay. The drugs reduced also the resistance of β 1‐42 amyloid fibrils to trypsin digestion. Tetracyclines not only inhibited the β‐amyloid aggregates formation but also disassembled the pre‐formed fibrils. The results indicate that drugs with a well‐known clinical profile, including activity in the central nervous system, are potentially useful for Alzheimer's therapy.