Originally published October 21 2005
Discovery of specific protein may lead to future Alzheimer's treatment
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
John Cirrito, a postdoctorate research fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis led a study that resulted in the discovery of a protein that can remove the amyloid beta plaque that Alzheimer's deposits in the human brain, a discovery that promises a possible method of treatment in the future.
The protein, P-glycoprotein (Pgp), has long been known to obstruct chemotherapy drugs and other drugs used in treating brain disorders.
But, by creating drugs that alter the natural levels of Pgp, it may be possible to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease, the researchers suggest.
"We found a new way of getting amyloid out of the brain," said lead author John Cirrito, a postdoctorate research fellow at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
"Now there are avenues we can explore to try to find a treatment.
Pgp is one of several molecular transporters that form the blood-brain barrier, a layer of cells that limits the ability of many types of molecules -- including many drugs -- to enter the brain through the circulatory system, Cirrito said.
"In the blood-brain barrier, it normally acts to keep molecules out of the brain," he explained, adding the protein actually pumps molecules out of brain cells.
Earlier research had hinted that Pgp could also transport amyloid beta molecules out of the brain, Cirrito said.
"We basically show that if we inject amyloid beta into the brains of mice, Pgp can pump amyloid beta out of the brain," he said.
The researchers also found that when specially bred mice were given a Pgp inhibitor, amyloid beta levels significantly increased in just a few hours.
Cirrito believes these findings might be used one day to both treat and prevent Alzheimer's disease.
"If you could enhance Pgp activity, perhaps you could get amyloid beta out of the brain and not let it build up," he said.
"There are drugs that are used to inhibit Pgp in cancer therapy to help chemotherapy drugs get into tumor cells," Cirrito said.
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