A protein has been isolated that scientists believe may be able to suppress the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, according to an international research team led by the University of Toronto. The researchers found the so-called TMP21 protein inhibits the production of a toxin in the brain called beta-amyloid, also known as Abeta, the main culprit in destroying brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients. It is this destruction of brain cells that eventually leads to memory disorders, behavioural changes and ultimately the dementia common to patients with the disease.
Alzheimer’s disease affects roughly 10 per cent of Canadians over the age of 65. The researchers findings were published in the April 27 issue of Nature. While the team has yet to isolate precisely how the protein inhibits Abeta production, the discovery has the medical community abuzz because not only is the protein naturally occurring in the brain, but it appears to have no adverse side-effects. “The protein appears to be very specific and only effects the toxin, but doesn’t effect normal cell function,” said Prof. Paul Fraser, part of the team from the Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases at U of T.
He added that several proteins have been found in the past to suppress the production of Abeta, but have in some way adversely effected how cells work, most commonly by causing brain swelling. “We now have a clean and direct way to inhibit the production of Abeta,” said Prof. Peter St. George-Hyslop, another researcher on the project. “This could provide the blueprint for the development of a drug to treat the disease.” But Prof. Fraser says there are still several steps that must be accomplished before a drug is created.
They must first isolate the mechanism in the protein that works to suppress Abeta. They must then see how it works in complex organisms, because up to this point, the phenomena has only been observed in cell cultures. Nevertheless, Prof. Fraser says its conceivable that a drug could be created within the decade. “You can sort grope around for a while and try to find things, and once you find it, you can just run with it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s inconceivable [that a drug could be created within the decade] given what’s been accomplished in the last ten years.”
