Efficacy of vitamin E, phosphatidyl choline and pyruvate on Abeta neurotoxicity in culture.

Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in neuronal degeneration including that induced by exposure to amyloid-beta (Abeta). Treatment with antioxidants such as vitamin E can alleviate Abeta neurotoxicity. However, vitamin E was only marginally effective in clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies indicate that treatment with vitamin E (as a-tocopherol), sodium pyruvate and phosphatidyl choline (PC) is more effective than vitamin E alone against neuronal oxidative stress. We demonstrate herein that treatment of cultured murine cortical neurons with these 3 agents is also more effective than vitamin E alone against Abeta neurotoxicity as assayed by generation of reactive oxygen species and increased levels of phospho-isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein tau. These data underscore the potential efficacy of a combinatorial neuroprotective formulation against Abeta neurotoxicity.