To understand the interest and scope of the results of the study conducted by a team of scientists piloted by researchers from the CNRS and the Grenoble Alpes University, it is first necessary to explain and understand what the intriguing Icelandic transfer is, discovered in 2012. The carriers of this genetic mutation associated with the production of a very rare form of beta-amyloid peptide benefit from better cognitive faculties than other people when they An age, and they are spared from Alzheimer’s disease.
“This discovery has been able to strengthen the idea that the disease comes from the production of a peptide naturally produced by the brain, but which becomes pathological when produced in excess”explains Alain Buisson, professor at Grenoble Alpes University. “We wanted to understand the mechanism of this effect and we were able to reproduce, on cellular models, the mutation in question and study its beneficial effects. We realized that we had the production of a peptide, which we find in Alzheimer’s disease, but which had lost its toxicity. He no longer destroyed synapses, he became harmless. »»
At the same time, Marc Dhenain, director of research at the active CNRS at the laboratory of neurocognitive diseases in Fontenay-aux-Roses, worked on prayer. “These are proteins with an abnormal shape”he notes. “We all have prayers with a normal form in our body, but when they become abnormal, they can kill our cells. They can communicate their abnormal shape to normal proteins and they spread. However, we know that the proteins involved in Alzheimer’s disease behave like prayers. This is why we are talking about nickname. »»
Surprising, and exceptional results
The two men then decided to work together. What if the genetic mutation could be reproduced, thanks to Icelandic peptides which would act like prayers?
“With Doctor Buisson, we produced Icelandic proteins and we inoculated them in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, in mice”continues Marc Dhenain, also vice-president of the medical and biological science scientific council of the France Alzheimer’s association and related diseases. “We were expecting an effect on the amyloid but the protective effect was much more important than expected. In reality, we protected against all the lesions linked to Alzheimer’s disease: amyloid and tau protein, as well as against the loss of synapses, another major marker of Alzheimer’s disease. This also made it possible to protect against behavioral damage, against memory losses; In short, against almost all the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. It was even sufficient in an inoculation of this protective protein to have effects for several months. For what ? Because we have this famous Prion effect. Probably the protein that is inoculates leads to a chain reaction to multiply protective proteins. It’s really exceptional. »»
And now ?
The conclusions of this study are really promising. Marc Dhenain adds that the protective protein “However, is not directly usable in humans”. “Like that, we cannot inject this molecule into the brain of human beings. Developments are therefore necessary. »»
“Our goal is to try to convert these experiences, to transform a peptide into a drug”continues Alain Buisson. “There are still a lot of obstacles to reach chemical structures that reproduce the effect of this protein. But we devote all our time to it and our energy. And the results obtained so far motivate us to continue in this direction. The prospects for the development of a treatment are something that animates us in a very acute way, Marc Dhenain and myself. »»
The two scientists thank the France Alzheimer’s association and related diseases, “Who supported our work and who made them possible”. “For us, it was crucial in the success of this work. »»
