This antibody is able to detect Alzheimer's disease

Thanks to the design of a new antibody capable of detecting the presence of oligomers, scientists have just taken a new step in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's disease is, to date, the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 7% of the world's population. Among those affected, it is estimated that only one in four patients is diagnosed, with symptoms usually manifested when the disease has already reached a stage of progression advanced and difficult to contain. But, thanks to a new antibody, able to detect certain proteins responsible for training amyloid plaques, scientists may soon be able to diagnose the pathology earlier, for better care.

Oligomers, spinning a suspected culprit

In the presence of tau protein, the peptide said beta-amyloid plays a predominant role in the formation of senile plaques that characterize the disease Alzheimer's. Called oligomer in its free form, beta-amyloid causes a decrease in the efficiency of networks cholinergic involved in memory and learning, as well as in muscle activity and the vegetative functions of the peripheral nervous system. However, the oligomers have long escaped the detection of researchers, being difficult to spot during the early stages of the disease.

" We still urgently need quantitative methods to recognize oligomers that play a major role in Alzheimer's disease, but are too inconspicuous for standard antibody detection strategies, explains Michele Vendruscolo, at the head of the new study, published in the review Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Thanks to our innovative strategy, we discovered antibodies capable of recognizing these toxic particles. "

Towards a better understanding of the disease

The method proposed by the Vendruscolo team is based on an antibody detection approach developed over the last ten years in Center for Misfolding Diseases. The antibody developed during their research now has a three times greater affinity with oligomers than with other types of beta-amyloids, making detection more refined and precise.

But the benefits of this advance do not stop there. By offering a more effective detection of oligomers, the method proposed by the researchers will make it possible to further study the role of the beta-amyloid peptide in the Alzheimer's disease.

" Although the thesis of amyloids is the most widespread, it has not yet been fully validated, partly because beta-amyloid oligomers are particularly difficult to detect; therefore opinions on the causes of Alzheimer's disease differ, continues Vendruscolo. The discovery of an antibody intended to precisely target the oligomers is therefore an important step in monitoring the disease, identifying its origins, and controlling its progression. "

Alzheimer's: an early diagnosis thanks to llama antibodies!

Destination health article, published on July 21, 2011

And if the diagnostic Alzheimer's disease could happen before the signs of dementia ? A team hopes to do this by making probes made up of antibodies to llama… Indeed, this animal has antibodies capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Hope for the 860,000 people affected.

  • All about the Alzheimer's disease

If we stick to the means currently available, the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease still remains very difficult, if not impossible, before the appearance of characteristic symptoms. Will the solution come … from the llama? This is what the partners of a new adventure hope for, which combines the Research Center of the Institut du brain and some spinal cord ((BMI, CNRS / Inserm / UPMC), the Office of theenergy atomic (CEA), the Pasteur Institute and the Roche Institute.

Why the llama ? Because this animal has very special antibodies. Smaller than ours, they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the brain but also allows … to penetrate some medication. A first step towards the earlier diagnosis of the disease, to the point of detecting it before it appears?

The Roche Translational Research Institute has just launched a three-year research project to develop new diagnostic tools. Immunologic probes should help detect protein characteristics of brain damage from Alzheimer's disease, Tau proteins.

Probes to spot signs of brain damage

These probes will be composed of antibodies specific for the Tau proteins, coupled to a product of contrast. This will allow to visualize the famous proteins, thanks to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). " We are in the process of developing the antibodies corresponding to the intercellular clusters of Tau protein and to the amyloid plaques "Explains Pierre Lafaye, fromPastor Institute. These are the two types of brain tissue damage that coexist in Alzheimer's disease. " Thanks to fragments of antibodies produced by the llama's body, combined with a contrast product, we hope to be able to visualize the lesions in the brain. ", He adds. In mice first, then " in samples of postmortem human brain tissue "

The diseaseAlzheimer affects 860,000 patients in France. Their number is expected to exceed 2 million by 2040. Being able to " detecting the disease before the onset of signs of dementia and before the loss of cognitive functions is a priority for patients and their loved ones “, We remember at the Roche laboratory. The project, carried out jointly by this private company and public research institutes (the Pasteur Institute, the Central commission of nuclear energy and the Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Research Center) should eventually " to better assess the progression of the disease, as well as the effects of new therapies in development "

This will also interest you

5 myths about the human brain On the occasion of Brain Week, which takes place from March 16 to 22, 2020, here are 5 myths about the human brain that die hard. Are they true or false? Video response!