Tag Archives: Alzheimer’s

Eliminating Enzyme Suppresses Alzheimer\’s Symptoms in Mouse Model

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Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease recently published their research showing that removing a protein-regulating enzyme from mice suppressed Alzheimer\’s symptoms in an animal model of the disease.

The researchers created genetically modified mice that expressed different levels of an enzyme known as Fyn. Fyn regulates the activities of many proteins. With Alzheimer\’s disease, amyloid proteins accumulate in the brain and destroy synapses. In mice genetically engineered to completely block Fyn, however, the amyloid proteins were unable to damage the synapses and the mice lived much longer than typical mice used in the Alzheimer\’s disease model.

Lead researcher Jeannie Chin said of the findings,

Our results suggest that Fyn lays a key role in Alzheimer\’s-related synaptic impairments, and that it can worsen the toxicity of amyloid proteins. We are excited about the possibility that pharmacological modulation of Fyn might be of therapeutic benefit in this disease.

As Fyn plays a key role in a number of neurological processes, it is unlikely that it could be completely suppressed in human beings without severe side effects. The researchers plan to conduct further research to quantify what sort of benefit, if any, mice in the Alzheimer\’s model receive from partial suppression of the enzyme.

Source:

Alzheimer\’s pathology reduces, longevity improved in mouse model, Gladstone study shows. Press Release, University of California – San Francisco, May 19, 2004.

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Researchers Discover Genes Linked to Alzheimer\’s

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Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University recently announced they had identified a set of genes that are believed to play a role in the early development of Alzheimer\’s disease.

In a press release announcing a forthcoming paper to be published in Human Molecular Genetics, lead researcher P. Hemachandra Reddy of the OHSU Neurological Sciences Institute said,

Through studying a mouse model of Alzheimer\’s, the research team found that a series of genes related to mitochondrial metabolism in brain cells were more active than in normal mice. Mitochondria are structures located in the cytoplasm of cells that produce energy for the cell. Prior research has linked Alzheimer\’s to mitochondrial function. However this is the first time genes that are responsible for early cellular change in Alzheimer\’s disease pathogenesis have been identified.

. . .

We studied gene expression levels at three distinct stages of disease progression in the genetically-altered mice relative to age-matched wild-type normal mice. We conducted gene expression analysis long before (2 months of age), immediately before (5 months) and after (18 months) the appearance of beta amyloid plaques. In doing this, we found that these mitochondrial genes were more active at 2 months of age when compared to normal mice, and in some cases their activity heightened as the disease progressed. We believe the abnormal gene expression comes in response to beta amyloid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, even in its early stages. Based on prior research, it\’s thought that energy metabolism in mitochondria is impaired by heightened levels of beta amyloid in the brain. We believe the genes identified in our study increase their activity to compensate for this damage, but unfortunately in the end they cannot keep up with the progression of Alzheimer\’s.

A companion study published in NeuroMolecular Medicine finds similar gene expressions in human Alzheimer\’s patients, demonstrating the value of using a mouse model to study Alzheimer\’s and, using this new finding, hopefully one day developing a test to detect the onset of Alzheimer\’s early in the disease\’s development.

Source:

OHSU researchers uncover genes involved in early stages of Alzheimer\’s disease. Press Release, Oregon Health & Science University, April 27, 2004.

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Researchers Find Mice Bone Marrow Cells Can Transform into Neurons

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Researchers at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke published an article in Science in December 2000 reporting on a very surprising finding — bone marrow injected into mice were able to transform themselves into brain cells.

Bone marrow consists of a couple of different types of stem cells which are the source of blood cells in the body. Scientists knew that neural stem cells can transform themselves into muscle, but the accidental discovery that bone marrow stem cells can transform into neurons was a major surprise.

In fact the researchers weren\’t even investigating that possibility in their initial experiments. They had injected mice with a genetically altered form of bone marrow that contained a gene that made the stem cells glow in the dark. The researchers were investigating whether or not the stem cells would convert themselves to muscle cells in the mice.

When they performed the dissection of the mice, however, they were surprised to find the animals\’ brains contained neurons that now glowed in the dark. Several other experiments, some involving a second laboratory, were done to confirm that in fact the bone marrow was replacing neurons.

Helen M. Blau, senior author of the Science article, told the Associated Press that, \”It may be a repair mechanism that is going all the time at a low level.\” The bone marrow probably doesn\’t work at a high enough level to repair serious brain damage or disease, but it may be on ongoing way that the body replace dying or defective neurons.

A lot more research will need to be done to better understand what is going on here, and this may never lead directly to any treatment for neurological disorders, but it does add an important piece of the puzzle on how adult stem cells can differentiate into a wide variety of other cells which is of great importance in many current efforts to find treatments for Alzheimer\’s, spinal cord injuries, and a whole host of other ailments.

Source:

Mice marrow can net neurons. Associated Press, December 1, 2000.

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Josh Harper Finally Testifies

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On February 8 animal rights activist Josh Harper finally testified before a federal grand jury about what he knows about the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front.

Harper was supposed to testify before the grand jury last year, but instead spent four months as a fugitive attempting to avoid testifying. Charged with criminal contempt, he was arrested in September 2000 and is scheduled to go on trial March 6 on the contempt charge.

Hoping to avoid prosecution, Harper cut a deal with federal authorities in which he agreed to submit to questioning by the grand jury. According to The Oregonian, after testifying Harper said that he was asked about a number of ALF/ELF crimes going back to 1997 and that he invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment several times to avoid answering questions.

Source:

Panel questions anarchist sought in eco-terrorist case. Bryan Denson, The Oregonian, February 9, 2001.

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Medical Advances Thanks to Animals

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In April, Alexion Pharmaceuticals
and Harvard Medical School\’s McLean Hospital announced they transplanted
genetically altered pig nerve cells into an animal model of Alzheimer\’s
disease (in this case, mice). The mice regained cognitive abilities once
the pig cells were implanted.

\”The current test model represents
the most rigorous animal model of Alzheimer\’s disease, in which wholesale
loss of cholinergic neurons is associated with highly advanced stages
of the disease,\” said Dr. Ole Isacson, associate professor in the Neuroregeneration
Laboratories at McLean Hospital. \”Today\’s reported findings represent
the first demonstration of functional restoration using transgenic pig
neurons in an animal model of Alzheimer\’s.\”

Meanwhile, researchers at Genzyme
Transgenic Corp., Tufts University and Louisiana State University announced
in April that they had genetically engineered goats to produce a human
protein used to affect the clotting of blood. The goats were the result
of a cloning experiment, suggesting that someday large numbers of genetically
engineered animals, carrying important drugs for treating human diseases
and medical conditions, may be produced relatively rapidly.

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Attack on University of Minnesota Worst Lab Attack in Recent Years

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On April 5, the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for a raid on a University of Minnesota lab
that released over 100 animals and vandalized the lab doing more than
$2 million in damage.

The lab was conducting experiments
with rats, pigeons, salamanders and mice on a variety of research projects
including efforts to better understand cancer and Parkinson’s disease.
Dr. Walter Low, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, said the
raid set back studies being conducted on Alzheimer\’s by at least two years
(the University of Minnesota is well known for developing a strain of
mice that mimic the traits often found in Alzheimer’s patients.)

Along with freeing the lab
animals, the ALF operatives smashed computers, wrecked microscopes and
photocopiers and even destroyed human tissue that were part of a research
program to find a vaccine to attack brain tumors. As Low pointed out,
this is rather ironic since the animal rights activists insist tissue
cultures should be used to replace animals in medical research.

Several people in the Minnesota
area, including a cancer patient, are offering a reward of $10,000 for
information leading to the capture and conviction of the perpetrators.

The reaction from animal rights
groups was predictable. Lisa Lange of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
was quoted in New Scientist as saying, \”We do things in a very different
way, but I understand their frustration. The real crime is that millions
of animals are being tortured and killed.\”

On the other hand Freeman Wicklund, executive director of the nonprofit Animal Liberation League,
told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that such actions hurt the animal rights
cause. \”We hope everybody realizes that the visible minority within
the animal-rights community doesn’t represent the broader movement,\” Wicklund said. \”A
lot of people who care about animals are upset about the actions.\”

Although it is nice to see
Wicklund oppose such raids, he is ignoring reality when he implies
his view is in the majority. In fact he has been widely denounced by animal
rights activists for his stance against terrorist activities.

Sources:

Animal activists suspected in lab damage. Jim Adams, Minnesota Star Tribune, April 6, 1999.

Activists up the ante. Kurt Kleiner, New Scientist, April 17, 1999.

Research labs vandalized, 75 animals taken. Associated Press, April 6, 1999.

NC A.L.F. Liberates 116 from Vivisection Lab. No Compromise, Press Release, Arpil 9, 1999.

Doctor refutes claim animal experiments have brought us closer to cure for Alzheimer\’s disease, call such claims \”exploitative\” of stricken families. New England Anti-Vivisection Society, Press Release, April 9, 1999.

Veternarian charges U of M experimenters exaggerated claims of research progress. In Defense of Animals, Press Release, April 9, 1999.

ALF tactics condemned. Letter to the editor, Minnesota Daily, April 9, 1999.

More lost U lab animals found in Woodbury field. Jim Adams, Minnesota Star Tribune, April 9, 1999.

Minn. research labs vandalized. Associated Press, April 6, 1999.

Animal Liberation Front claims responsibility for liberation of 116 animals from University of Minnesota, while destroying violent research. North American Animal Liberation Front Press Office, Press Release, April 5, 1999.

A.L.F. Raids University of Minnesota Animal Lab. North American Animal Liberation Front Press Office, Press Release, April 5, 1999.

Vigil for lab animals. Animal Liberation Front, Press Release, April 7, 1999.

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