Will the neurotrophic factor cure Alzheimer's disease?

Neuroscientists from the University of California at San Diego have successfully tested in the laboratory an experimental method for preventing the death of brain neurons that accompanies the development of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists do not exclude that the same treatment will help people suffering from this disease.

This study was conducted under the guidance of a recognized authority on neurodegenerative diseases – Professor Mark Tishinsky [Mark Tuszynski]. He and his collaborators have been exploring for many years the possibilities of combating these pathologies with the help of various growth factors. This is the name of specific proteins that stimulate the reproduction of certain types of cells.

At the beginning of this decade, Tishinsky became a pioneer in the use of one of the proteins of this group, nerve growth factor, against Alzheimer's disease. Although this protein does not protect brain tissue from premature death, it seems to increase the activity of some neurons and thereby slows down memory loss. Currently, this technique is undergoing the second stage of clinical trials.

Now Mark Tishinsky and his colleagues have taken the next step. This time they experimented with another protein from the same family, the brain neurotrophic factor.

Brain neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is synthesized in neurons of various phenotypes and localization, in many types of neuroglia cells and in fibroblasts – connective tissue cells. During development, BDNF is involved in the differentiation of neurons, maturation, survival and formation of synapses. In the adult body, BDNF performs a neuroprotective function, protecting neurons from the effects of lack of oxygen and other damaging factors. Especially intensive synthesis of BDNF occurs in the entorhinal region of the cerebral cortex, which acts as a link in the exchange of information between the associative areas of the cortex and the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory.

In Alzheimer's disease, it is primarily the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampus that are affected. It is not surprising that the synthesis of the brain neurotrophic factor also suffers.

Scientists from San Diego worked with several models of Alzheimer's disease, which was reproduced in mice, rats and monkeys. The experimenters either injected the neurotrophic factor itself into the affected tissues, or infected them with a harmless genetically engineered virus carrying an embedded gene for this protein. In all cases, the sick animals showed a significant improvement in the ability to memorize and learn.

It also turned out that the neurotrophic factor, unlike the nerve growth factor, quite realistically prevents the death of neurons. Researchers believe that it includes a number of genes that protect brain cells from death.

Professor Tishinsky plans to monitor the condition of animals that have received a course of experimental therapy for at least another year. If it does not worsen, it will be possible to think about organizing clinical trials of this technique.

The research report is published in the February 9 issue of Nature Medicine.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the Voice of America

11.02.2009