Enzyme Shows Promise For Alzheimer's
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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2009) – University of Kentucky researchers have found
that an enzyme that breaks down the peptides believed to be a causative agent in
Alzheimer’s disease, when present in blood, offers a promising approach for preventing
and treating Alzheimer's disease.
The researchers, led by Louis Hersh, professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry at the UK College of Medicine, found the enzyme, called neprilysin, breaks down amyloid beta peptides in plasma. One current theory on Alzheimer's disease cites these peptides as a cause of neurodegeneration.
The UK research team used an adeno-associated virus currently used in gene therapy to produce neprilysin on the hind limb muscle in an animal model. The neprilysin generated in the muscle was secreted into the blood, where it degraded the amyloid peptides that entered the blood from the brain.
The net effects were decreases in levels of both brain amyloid beta peptides and amyloid deposits similar to those typically seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease afflicts more than 26 million people worldwide. At this time, there is no cure, and current treatments can only alleviate or slow the disease's progress.
The researchers, led by Louis Hersh, professor of molecular and cellular biochemistry at the UK College of Medicine, found the enzyme, called neprilysin, breaks down amyloid beta peptides in plasma. One current theory on Alzheimer's disease cites these peptides as a cause of neurodegeneration.
The UK research team used an adeno-associated virus currently used in gene therapy to produce neprilysin on the hind limb muscle in an animal model. The neprilysin generated in the muscle was secreted into the blood, where it degraded the amyloid peptides that entered the blood from the brain.
The net effects were decreases in levels of both brain amyloid beta peptides and amyloid deposits similar to those typically seen in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease afflicts more than 26 million people worldwide. At this time, there is no cure, and current treatments can only alleviate or slow the disease's progress.