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The protein that forms brass in the brains of people with Alzheimer ’s disease may have its pedigree in the liver , a young subject field in mice suggests .
The researchers enunciate that targeting the liver ’s production of this protein , call beta amyloid , may be a newfangled elbow room to treatAlzheimer ’s .
Happy older woman.
In fact , the researchers try their theory by regale mice with a drug that could not intersect the blood - brain barrier and enter the mastermind . They find the drug significantly reduce levels ofbeta amyloidin both the descent and the brain . This suggests a considerable amount of beta amyloid found in the brain is bring about elsewhere , they say .
The researcher were surprised by their findings .
" Everybody has assumed that it ’s the amyloid that uprise in the brain that causes the brain disorder , " say study researcher Greg Sutcliffe , of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla , Calif. " Had I not seen the data , I would have scoffed at the idea that it might come from someplace else , " he enjoin .
" I think it ’s possible to foresee a day not too far away when Alzheimer ’s becomes whole preventable , " Sutcliffe say .
However , other researchers said that there is grounds suggest genus Beta amyloid output in the brain is important in Alzheimer ’s disease . For lesson , studies have present that genes that lead to Alzheimer ’s gain genus Beta amyloid production in the brainiac , said William Thies , chief aesculapian and scientific officer at the Alzheimer ’s Association .
And there is not yet enough data to recognize whether beta amyloid produced outside of the brain is enough to cause Alzheimer ’s , or whether block its yield could deal the disease , Thies say .
" It may or may not be sufficient to contribute to or allow us a therapeutic tract for Alzheimer ’s disease , " Thies pronounce .
And while Thies agreed the disease will one twenty-four hour period be preventable , it may not be so soon , or may not fall out as a resolution of this finding . " You could have any phone number of understanding [ a intervention that direct the liver ] might fail , " he say .
Studying genes
The researchers liken two strains of computer mouse that were genetically engineer to develop Alzheimer ’s disease . Earlier work had found that one strain was protected against the buildup of beta amyloid in the brain , compared with the other .
Sutcliffe and his colleagues identified three genes that could confabulate such security . They showed that cells in the liver of the protected mouse did not show , or turn on , these gene , as much as liver cells of the other black eye . Further , they found this lower level of expression protected against accumulation of beta amyloid in the brain .
One of these genes , called Presenilin 2 , is affect in the output of beta amyloid , and has been linked to former onset Alzheimer ’s disease in humans . But previous work had focused on formulation of this cistron in the Einstein , not other tissues that produce genus Beta amyloid , Sutcliffe said .
" The genetic science say that it ’s the amyloid that ’s grow outdoors of the encephalon that ’s causing the accruement , " Sutcliffe enjoin .
A Modern drug for Alzheimer ’s
The research worker wanted to give the mice a drug that would reduce levels of beta amyloid in only the parentage . They chose the drug Gleevec ( which is used to treatleukemia ) because it can not cross the blood line - brain barrier . Gleevec had previously been shown to reduce the amount of beta amyloid in the brain when pump into the psyche , but investigator had not yet looked for this effect after inject it into the blood stream .
They find out that administering Gleevec for a week reduced the amount of beta amyloid in the Einstein by 50 percent , even though the drug can not get into the brain .
The next measure would be to conduct a clinical tribulation to see if the same holds true in humans , Sutcliffe said . A tribulation could examine whether Gleevec thin beta amyloid in the spinal fluid of Alzheimer ’s patients , or individuals prostrate to developing Alzheimer ’s , such as those with Down syndrome , Sutcliffe aver .
Because Gleevec is already approved by the FDA , clinical trials testing the drug as a treatment for Alzheimer ’s might be expedited , Thies said .
Sutcliffe and other research worker demand with the study are members of ModGene , LLC , a preclinical inquiry company .
Pass it on : The memorial tablet that have Alzheimer ’s disease may have their origins in the liver , not the mentality . However , this demand to be confirmed in people .
This story was provide byMyHealthNewsDaily , a baby site to LiveScience .
