| beta-amyloid | <protein> The protein which forms thick deposits, or plaques, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease, a disease where memory skills gradually deteriorate with age. (13 Nov 1997) |
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| cerebral amyloid angiopathy | <pathology> A condition where there is a deposition of amyloid (insoluble protein) in the walls of the arteries which supply the brain. This results in an increased risk of dementia and-or intracerebral haemorrhage. Cerebral amyloidosis or cerebral amyloid angiopathy, is a complication of primary amyloidosis. Origin: Gr. Pathos = disease (27 Sep 1997) |
| serum amyloid | In secondary amyloidosis the fibrils deposited in tissues are unrelated to immunoglobulin light chains (in contrast to the situation in primary amyloidosis) and are made of amyloid A protein (AA protein). This is derived from serum amyloid A (SAA) that is the apolipoprotein of a high density lipoprotein and an acute phase protein. Partial proteolysis converts SAA into the pleated sheet configuration of the amyloid fibrils. Amyloid P protein is also found as a minor component of the fibrils (in both primary and secondary amyloidosis) and is derived from serum amyloid P that has similarity to C-reactive protein. The physiological role remains obscure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| serum amyloid P component | Precursor of amyloid component P, found in basement membrane. Member of the pentraxin family. See: serum amyloid. (18 Nov 1997) |
| islet amyloid peptide | <hormone, protein> Peptide of 37 amino acids that selectively inhibits insulin stimulated glucose uptake in muscle. Structurally related to calcitonin gene-related peptide. (15 Oct 1997) |
| familial amyloid neuropathy | <neurology> A disorder in which various peripheral nerves are infiltrated with amyloid and their functions disturbed, an abnormal prealbumin is also formed and is present in the blood; characteristically, it begins during mid-life and is found largely in persons of Portuguese descent. Other rare clinical types occur. Inheritance: autosomal dominant. Synonym: familial amyloidosis, hereditary amyloidosis. (05 Mar 2000) |