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Brain scan of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease – the most common neurodegenerative disease
Dnevnik Express
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Israeli scientists have identified a protein that could potentially lead to the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by facilitating the regeneration of nerve cells in the peripheral nervous system, Israel’s TPS news agency reported.
A serendipitous discovery by a team of researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science sheds new light on regeneration in the nervous system and opens up opportunities to fight diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which are now incurable.
Regeneration is more prominent among some species of lizards, salamanders, and frogs, whose tails or limbs can regrow if severed.
Peripheral versus central nervous system
The peripheral nervous system, responsible for connecting the brain and spinal cord with other organs, has the remarkable ability to regenerate damaged nerve cells. In contrast, the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, has limited possibilities for regeneration, which leads to the irreversibility and incurability of neurodegenerative diseases.
Until now, scientists have focused on understanding why the peripheral nervous system can regenerate so efficiently.
PTBP1, a protein that is known to decline sharply as embryonic cells differentiate into adult neural cells, is of interest in regenerative research. Previous research aimed to replicate this process in non-neuronal cells by reducing PTBP1 levels, with the hope of generating new neurons in the brains of people with neurodegenerative diseases.
However, a recent study led by Dr. Stephanie Alber and PhD student Pierluigi Di Matteo in Prof. Mike Feinzilber’s lab at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot revealed that PTBP1 is not limited to embryonic cells. Surprisingly, it is also expressed in adult neurons of the peripheral nervous system, challenging conventional wisdom.
The team’s findings were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances.
Accidental discovery
Research initially aimed at understanding the regulation of KPNB1, a protein responsible for transmitting information in neurons, stumbled upon the presence of PTBP1 in adult cells.
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According to the researchers, KPNB1 serves to transport information from distant parts of the neuron to the nucleus, where regeneration signals are initiated. PTBP1 binds efficiently to messenger RNA molecules that carry instructions so that information and signals can be transmitted.
Recovery week
To determine PTBP1’s impact on neuronal function and regeneration, the researchers studied the neurons’ response to injury. They observed that levels of PTBP1 in the cells increased three days after injury and peaked after one week. At the same time, nerve cells begin to regenerate. Sequencing of the RNA molecules associated with PTBP1 revealed its interaction not only with KPNB1, but also with RNA molecules encoding other proteins that are critical for nerve cell regeneration, such as RHOA, an important regulator of cell growth.
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To further investigate the role of PTBP1 in adult cells, the scientists silenced its expression through genetic engineering. This manipulation resulted in reduced regeneration of the nerve cells responsible for transmitting pain sensations in the peripheral nervous system.
According to the World Health Organization, 55 million people suffer from dementia, mostly as a result of Alzheimer’s disease, making it the most common neurodegenerative disease. Next in frequency is Parkinson’s disease – 8.5 million people.
2023-09-04 19:16:05
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