Researchers have discovered how a cell surface protein called Aplp1 can help spread material responsible for Parkinson’s disease from cell-to-cell in the brain. This discovery offers promising hope for the development of new treatments.
According to a recent study, an FDA-approved cancer drug that targets another protein called Lag3 blocks the spread in mice, suggesting a potential therapy may already exist. The study also found that targeting this interaction with drugs could significantly slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Parkinson’s disease affects over 8.5 million people globally and is usually diagnosed when symptoms show, including tremors, stiffness, balance problems, speech difficulties, and mental health issues. The disease causes the death or impairment of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain’s substantia nigra region, leading to symptoms such as difficulty walking or speaking.
The researchers used genetically modified mice with either Aplp1 or Lag3 missing, or both, and found that Aplp1 and Lag3 can each independently help brain cells absorb harmful alpha-synuclein protein clumps. However, when both proteins were missing, 90% less of the harmful protein entered healthy brain cells.
The researchers also tested a melanoma medication containing an antibody against Lag3 on normal mice, which showed that it stopped Aplp1 and Lag3 from interacting, almost completely blocking the formation of disease-causing alpha-synuclein clumps in neurons.
The next step is to test this treatment on mouse models of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, where research has also pointed to Lag3 as a target. This study offers new hope for the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/parkinsons-discovery-suggests-we-could-already-have-an-fda-approved-treatment