New mechanism discovered in Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's research: plaque precursors disrupt the neurotransmitters
In Alzheimer's disease, protein deposits (plaques) form in the brain, to which a significant contribution to the development of the symptoms is attributed. The protein, which is responsible for the formation of the destructive plaques, researchers have more closely examined the Ruhr University Bochum. They found that this precursor protein of the plaques could be involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease via another mechanism.

"In Alzheimer's research, a research focus is on the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is responsible for the formation of destructive plaques in the brain," reports the Ruhr University Bochum. However, APP does not only contribute to the formation of plaques but is also involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease via another mechanism. Dr. Thorsten Müller and PhD student Christina Looße from the Ruhr University's Medical Proteome Center have found that APP affects neurotransmitter activity and is not primarily a precursor to plaques. "This hypothesis could provide interesting starting points for the development of therapies for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the future," said Müller in the press release of the University.

The precursor proteins of the dreaded plaques already lead to altered neurotransmitter activity. (Image: Juan Gärtner / fotolia.com)

Formation of spherical spheres in the nucleus
The researchers explain that under certain circumstances, APP causes the formation of spherical structures in the cell nucleus, so-called spheres. These in turn affect the activity of some genes, which may lead to a change in neurotransmitter activity, according to the announcement of the Ruhr University. As biochemical messengers, neurotransmitters are responsible for the transmission of signals from one nerve cell to other cells. Although it was previously known that APP lead to the formation of spherical structures, their influence on the cell remained unclear. The scientists of the Ruhr University now used a cell culture model for their study in which they were able to "switch on the sphere formation". So it was possible to compare with "switched off cells", which do not lead to a sphere formation. "It emerged that cells that form spheres show a higher expression of the bestrophin 1 gene," explains Dr. med. miller.

Neurotransmitter activity is disturbed
The bestrophin 1 gene has been shown in recent studies to be associated with impaired neurotransmitter activity in Alzheimer's disease, the researchers explain. "Increased levels of the neurotransmitter GABA in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's disease patients have been described, and our study could provide insight into the relationship between neurotransmitter changes and the APP," Dr. Thorsten Mülller the relevance of the current research work for medicine. According to the study results, the precursor protein of the plaques - unlike previously thought - could influence the development of the disease by causing a disruption of neurotransmitter activity. Here, according to the researchers, interesting starting points for the development of new therapies for Alzheimer's are opening up. (Fp)