Navigation Links
Collagen VI may help protect the brain against Alzheimer's disease
Date:1/5/2009

/p>

"These findings were really surprising and exciting to us because nobody knew anything about collagen VI in the brain," said Jason Cheng, MD, co-lead author of the study. "We were particularly curious whether collagen VI contributed to neuronal damage in AD or was produced as a defense mechanism against it," added Dena Dubal, MD, PhD, co-lead author of the study.

To answer this and other questions, the scientists carried out a series of informative cell culture experiments. These experiments revealed found that Aβ added to neurons grown in culture increased the expression of collagen VI and that this process involved the immune regulatory cytokine TGFβ. What is more, the team discovered that increasing the amount of collagen VI in the cultures effectively protected the neurons against Aβ toxicity.

"This striking protective effect suggests that increased neuronal production of collagen VI is an important component of the brain's defense against Aβ," said Dr. Mucke. "It made us really curious about the underlying mechanisms."

To clinch these mechanisms, Dr. Mucke's team examined the direct interactions of collagen VI with Aβ. They looked at how Aβ attacks individual neurons in cell culture. Small poisonous Aβ assemblies, called oligomers, bind strongly to vulnerable neurons in the brain, but in the presence of collagen VI, this binding was blocked. Using immunohistochemistry and atomic force microscopy, they showed that collagen VI and Aβ form large aggregates with each other that may sequester the smaller, more toxic Aβ complexes away from neurons.

"We are eager to explore how this kind of process might be enhanced therapeutically and how we can best leverage it for the development of more effective treatments for this devastating condition," said Dr. Dubal.


'/>"/>

Contact: Valerie Tucker
vtucker@gladstone.ucsf.edu
415-734-2019
Gladstone Institutes
Source:Eurekalert

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. New Injectable Collagen Filler Offers Natural Results
2. Galderma Completes Tender Offer for CollaGenex
3. Galderma Announces HSR Clearance for Its Proposal to Acquire CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals
4. Galderma Reaches Agreement to Acquire CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals
5. AGI Dermatics Data Indicates 8 Oxo-Guanine Repair Enzyme OGG1 Encapsulated in Liposomes, Reduces MMP-1, Increases Collagen and Enhances DNA Repair
6. Collagen Matrix, Inc. Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for SynOss(TM) Synthetic Mineral Bone Graft Material
7. Prenatal Nutrition, Postnatal Allergy Protection
8. To Protect Yourself, Wash Those Germs Away
9. What are protective effects of anti-ricin A-chain aptamer?
10. Exercise Protects Black Women From Type 2 Diabetes
11. Facing Deadly Ice Storms, Home Medical Equipment Providers in New England Mobilize to Protect Oxygen Patients
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Pharmacyclics, Inc. Announces Presentation of Interim Results From Phase I Trial of Its First-In-Human Btk Inhibitor PCI-32765 2Health News:Pharmacyclics, Inc. Announces Presentation of Interim Results From Phase I Trial of Its First-In-Human Btk Inhibitor PCI-32765 3Health News:Pharmacyclics, Inc. Announces Presentation of Interim Results From Phase I Trial of Its First-In-Human Btk Inhibitor PCI-32765 4Health News:Pharmacyclics, Inc. Announces Presentation of Interim Results From Phase I Trial of Its First-In-Human Btk Inhibitor PCI-32765 5Health News:Pitt study suggests craving hinders comprehension without your realizing it 2Health News:City of Hope Researchers Present Data on more than 30 Studies During American Society of Hematology Meeting Dec. 5 to 8 in New Orleans 2Health News:City of Hope Researchers Present Data on more than 30 Studies During American Society of Hematology Meeting Dec. 5 to 8 in New Orleans 3Health News:City of Hope Researchers Present Data on more than 30 Studies During American Society of Hematology Meeting Dec. 5 to 8 in New Orleans 4Health News:City of Hope Researchers Present Data on more than 30 Studies During American Society of Hematology Meeting Dec. 5 to 8 in New Orleans 5Health News:Wellness Cruise Offers Crystal Guests 'Indian Ocean Insight' 2Health News:VitaminSpice Signs Agreement With Former CEO of Wal-Mart Stores Division for US Distribution 2
Breaking Medicine Technology:VidaySalud.com(TM) Reaches 1,000,000 Page Views In its First Six Months of Operation 2Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 2Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 3Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 4Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 5Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 6Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Reports Updated Phase 1/2 Data, Including New Survival Data, on KRX-0401 (Perifosine) in the Treatment of Advanced Multiple Myeloma at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology 7Elusys Presents Data From Anthim(R) Anthrax Anti-Toxin Studies at the HHS Stakeholders Workshop 2009 & BARDA Industry Day 2Elusys Presents Data From Anthim(R) Anthrax Anti-Toxin Studies at the HHS Stakeholders Workshop 2009 & BARDA Industry Day 3New Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters Opens Doors to Improve Provider Patient Communication 26 Quality Medical Care 57223 1New Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters Opens Doors to Improve Provider Patient Communication 26 Quality Medical Care 57223 2New Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters Opens Doors to Improve Provider Patient Communication 26 Quality Medical Care 57223 3Biosimilars of Rituxan MabThera Herceptin and Erbitux will Erode 248 2 Billion in U S and European Sales in 2018 57220 1Biosimilars of Rituxan MabThera Herceptin and Erbitux will Erode 248 2 Billion in U S and European Sales in 2018 57220 2Biosimilars of Rituxan MabThera Herceptin and Erbitux will Erode 248 2 Billion in U S and European Sales in 2018 57220 3People With Swine Flu May Be Contagious Longer Than Thought 57217 1People With Swine Flu May Be Contagious Longer Than Thought 57217 2People With Swine Flu May Be Contagious Longer Than Thought 57217 3