Figure 2.

Processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) may set a balance between Hebbian and homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Work in recent years has established a firm link between the non-amyloidogenic processing pathway—i.e., APP secreted ectodomain alpha (APPsα)—and the ability of neurons to express LTP of excitatory postsynapses. Likewise, evidence has started to emerge for the role of the amyloidogenic processing pathway—i.e., amyloid-β (Aβ)—in homeostatic synaptic plasticity. Hence, differential processing of APP via α- or β-secretases may set a balance between Hebbian and homeostatic synaptic plasticity in neural networks.