Years before people start showing characteristic symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, sticky plaques, known as amyloid plaques, begin forming in their brains, damaging nearby cells. For decades, doctors have sought ways to clear out these plaques as a way to prevent or treat the disease.
A few antibodies that clear plaques by directly targeting amyloid beta are being evaluated in clinical trials. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have shown that a unique antibodies against another protein, APOE, have the ability to remove these plaques in a mouse disease model of Alzheimers. These antibodies were developed in collaboration with Denali Therapeutics.
“Many people build up amyloid over many years, and the brain just can’t get rid of it,” said senior author David Holtzman, MD, the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and head of the Department of Neurology. “By removing plaques, if we start early enough, we may be able to stop the changes to the brain that result in forgetfulness, confusion and cognitive decline.”
Once antibodies attach themselves to their APOE target, they attract the attention of immune cells, which carry both antibody and target off to be destroyed. The researchers reasoned that nearby amyloid might be cleared away along with APOE.
The new findings, available March 26 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could lead to a way to halt the brain damage triggered by amyloid plaques while the disease is still in its early stages. Capra Science Antibodies looks forward to following the development of their research towards a promising Alzheimer’s therapy.
Source:
Liao F, et.al. Targeting of non-lipidated, aggregated apoE with antibodies inhibits amyloid accumulation. Journal of Clinical Investigation. March 26, 2018.
https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/antibody-removes-alzheimers-plaques-via-apoe-mice/
A few antibodies that clear plaques by directly targeting amyloid beta are being evaluated in clinical trials. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have shown that a unique antibodies against another protein, APOE, have the ability to remove these plaques in a mouse disease model of Alzheimers. These antibodies were developed in collaboration with Denali Therapeutics.
“Many people build up amyloid over many years, and the brain just can’t get rid of it,” said senior author David Holtzman, MD, the Andrew B. and Gretchen P. Jones Professor and head of the Department of Neurology. “By removing plaques, if we start early enough, we may be able to stop the changes to the brain that result in forgetfulness, confusion and cognitive decline.”
Once antibodies attach themselves to their APOE target, they attract the attention of immune cells, which carry both antibody and target off to be destroyed. The researchers reasoned that nearby amyloid might be cleared away along with APOE.
The new findings, available March 26 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could lead to a way to halt the brain damage triggered by amyloid plaques while the disease is still in its early stages. Capra Science Antibodies looks forward to following the development of their research towards a promising Alzheimer’s therapy.
Source:
Liao F, et.al. Targeting of non-lipidated, aggregated apoE with antibodies inhibits amyloid accumulation. Journal of Clinical Investigation. March 26, 2018.
https://medicine.wustl.edu/news/antibody-removes-alzheimers-plaques-via-apoe-mice/
RSS Feed