Laminin inhibits A β42 fibril formation in vitro

In the present study, we investigated whether or not laminin inhibits A beta 42 fibril formation in the same manner as A beta 40. Both a thioflavine-T fluorometric assay and electron microscopy by negative staining demonstrated laminin to have a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on A beta 42 fibril formation. The amyloid fibril formation was inhibited approximately by 70% due to the presence of 1.0 mg/ml laminin co-incubated with 1.0 mg/ml A beta 42 peptide (molar ratio; A beta 42 peptide:laminin = 200:1). These results thus suggested that laminin or its derivatives may be effective as therapeutic agents to either prevent or slow down the progression of amyloidogenesis in Alzheimer's disease. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.