Neuroprotective mechanism of Alzheimer's disease dangerous gene changes

The team revealed evidence supporting reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is a natural by-product of cell metabolism, is related to inflammation and other processes, and is a key factor leading to the destruction of neuroprotective mechanisms

"Dr.

When neurons are faced with high levels of ROS, neuroprotective mechanisms come into play, stimulating neurons to produce rich lipids

In previous studies, the researchers linked the neuroprotective mechanism to the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, the apolipoprotein APOE4

Moulton said: "In our current work, we want to identify genes that are essential for lipid droplet formation, especially those required to export lipids from neurons and import lipids into glial

The team studied the effects of these Alzheimer's disease risk genes on a fruit fly model, studying only one gene at a time

Morton said: "In all cases where ROS was present, we saw the loss of droplets, and we also saw neurodegeneration, which once again proved that the interference of glial cell droplet formation can cause neuron damage

In this way, the team demonstrated that several genes related to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in the whole-genome sequencing study disrupted the formation of neuroprotective lipid droplets, which provided a mechanism that could explain the risks associated with these genes.

In addition, in the Drosophila model, Moulton and his colleagues tested whether the ABCA1 agonist can enable APOE4 in the Drosophila model to mediate the formation of lipid droplets in glial cells

The researchers also studied whether ROS can exacerbate the effects of amyloid on the disease

"As we age, the ROS in the brain will increase

Journal Reference :

1. Matthew J.