Scientists from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have found that controlling the distance between toxic protein clumps in the brain may prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The results of scientists’ research shared In the journal Nature Neuroscience.
As part of the scientific study, researchers focused on examining the properties of a protein called plexin-B1. It is highly expressed by neurons in the brain. This protein acts as a homing receptor for astrocytes, the accessory (glial) cells of the nervous system. It is astrocytes that can control the distance between amyloid plaques (toxic deposits of amyloid protein in the brain) and influence the effectiveness of other brain cells in removing these unwanted deposits.
Experiments in laboratory mice have shown that suppressing plexin-B1 prevents astrocytes from “binding” to plaques and bringing them closer together (clustering). Additionally, artificial attenuation of plexin-B1 activity was associated with reduced inflammation in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists noted that future discoveries may provide the basis for the development of new treatments for this disease based on the regulation of glial cells.
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