The effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on A beta amyloidogenesis in HeLa cells
Author:
Jennifer KrugerMentor:
Luiza Nogaj, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, Mount St. Mary's CollegeAlzheimer’s Disease is a form of neurodegenerative dementia that afflicts 5.4 million Americans and is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Of the top ten causes of death, Alzheimer’s is the only one that cannot be prevented, cured, or alleviated. This disease is characterized by the formation of β-Amyloid plaques in the brain that impede neuronal cell function. Past research has shown that certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs possess activity that inhibits amyloidogenesis, yet the mechanism by which these drugs work is unknown. Further, very little research has been done on the most commonly used NSAID: aspirin. Using HeLa cells, we test the effects of various concentrations of acetylsalicylic acid on Aβ42 and measure cell viability with an MTT assay. We also show the effects of various classes of NSAIDs on cell viability in an effort to understand the mechanism by which these drugs inhibit amyloidogenesis.