For years, experts have been assuming that immune cells do not play a role in Alzheimer's disease, but a recent breakthrough proves it to be wrong.
Researchers from the University of California have conducted a study on mice to determine the role of immune cells in Alzheimer's. They genetically modified a group of mice to lack T cells, B cells and NK cells.
Reduced Secretion Of Beta-Amyloid Signals Onset Of Alzheimer’s
Conventional wisdom has been turned on its head in Alzheimer's research. It is now posited that reduced secretion of beta-Amyloid could signal the onset of the disease, not increased secretion.
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‘Peripheral immune cells associate with the microglia of the brain to help get rid of Alzheimer's beta-amyloid plaque.’
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The main reason behind the development of Alzheimer's is beta-amyloid proteins that form plaques on the brain cells. Therefore, researchers examined whether these immune cells played any role in eliminating the plaque formations.
T cells, B cells and NK cells are peripheral immune cells while microglia is the immune cells in the brain, which have an effect on the beta-amyloid proteins.
![Faster Cognitive Decline Linked To High Plasma Levels of Beta-amyloid]( "Faster Cognitive Decline Linked To High Plasma Levels of Beta-amyloid")
A new study has found that high plasma levels of beta-amyloid -protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's disease when they accumulate in the brain- appear to be associated with
So, after a period of six months, researchers found a two-fold increase in beta-amyloid protein accumulation in mice devoid of peripheral immune cells. Therefore, researchers again transplanted bone marrow cells into these mice, as the T cells, B cells and NK cells develop from the bone marrow cells.
After a period, they found that the beta-amyloid accumulation reduced in the mice, showing the link between the peripheral immune cells and microglia. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers concluded that reconstitution of the missing cells allowed the B-cells to produce antibodies that reached the brain and helped the microglia eradicate the beta-amyloid.
Source: Medindia
Faster Cognitive Decline Linked To High Plasma Levels of Beta-amyloid
A new study has found that high plasma levels of beta-amyloid -protein fragments associated with Alzheimer's disease when they accumulate in the brain- appear to be associated with
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So, after a period of six months, researchers found a two-fold increase in beta-amyloid protein accumulation in mice devoid of peripheral immune cells. Therefore, researchers again transplanted bone marrow cells into these mice, as the T cells, B cells and NK cells develop from the bone marrow cells.
After a period, they found that the beta-amyloid accumulation reduced in the mice, showing the link between the peripheral immune cells and microglia. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Researchers concluded that reconstitution of the missing cells allowed the B-cells to produce antibodies that reached the brain and helped the microglia eradicate the beta-amyloid.
Source: Medindia
Role of Beta-Amyloid in Alzheimer's Disease Continues to Baffle Researchers
Researchers are still looking for unequivocal proof that beta-amyloid is the causal agent of the onset and development of Alzheimer's disease.
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 Novel Culture System Replicates Course of Alzheimer's Disease, Proves Amyloid HypothesisAn new laboratory culture system has succeeded, for the first time, in reproducing the full course of events underlying the development of Alzheimer's disease. | Advertisement
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