Innovative Approach May Slow Down, Halt Onset, Progression
By Laurie Fickman
From: University of Houston
June 14, 2022 -- Inside the body,
some seemingly harmless proteins have sinister potential. In the case of Alzheimer’s
disease, the amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein, which is vital for brain
growth, can become tainted and destroy cells, which leads to forgetfulness and
memory loss. Proteins are neat little things that can only perform their
functions if folded properly. Thus, the misfolding and deposition of amyloid
beta in the brain is the main hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
“One of the drivers of
Alzheimer’s pathogenesis is the production of soluble oligomeric Aβ, which
could potentially serve as a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Tianfu
Wu, University of Houston associate professor of biomedical
engineering. Oligomeric proteins are comprised of several protein chains
or subunits packed tightly together.
Since 1959, the
fluorescent dye thioflavin-T (ThT) has been a widely used “gold standard” for
selectively staining and identifying amyloid fibrils, which result from the
self-assembly of proteins into those large groups. However, due to the charge
and emission wavelength (less than 650 nm) of ThT, the in-vivo use is limited.
In addition, ThT can detect only the fibrillar form of Aβ, but not the
oligomeric forms.
That’s why a new probe
for in-vivo detection of the oligomeric form of Aβ is highly desirable for the
early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, and that’s what Wu and collaborators
have been creating.
“We synthesized a near-infrared fluorescence-imaging probe to detect both
soluble and insoluble Aβ. It not only binds oligomeric Aβ but also interposes
self-assembly of Aβ,” reports Wu in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia. This work holds great promise in the early
diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and may provide an alternative way to prevent and
intervene in Alzheimer’s disease and other amyloidosis.”
That couldn’t come a
moment too soon. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million
Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. By 2050, this number is projected to
rise to nearly 13 million.
No real prevention and
treatment of this chronic, degenerative brain disease exists; only five drugs
are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat it, and they are
all palliative. Unfortunately, these medications are not able to alleviate
pathological changes or delay disease progression.
“It is notable that the
lack of early and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and disease
surveillance further hinders the development of therapeutic drugs,” said Wu.
“Our hope is this new probe will help us detect the disease early and form
targets for prevention and progression.”
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