Gene therapy will protect against Alzheimer's
Clinical trials of genetic therapy of Alzheimer's disease start
Sergey Kolenov, Hi-tech+
Scientists will have to find out whether it is possible to slow down the development of this incurable neurodegenerative disease by interfering with the work of genes.
About 25 years ago, researchers linked the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease to the APOE gene. In the population, it is represented by three variants. One of them (APOE4) increases the likelihood of getting sick, and the other (APOE2) reduces.
The apoE2 isoform is associated with the development of type III hyperlipoproteinemia (accumulation of lipoprotein residues), but maybe the risk of atherosclerosis is not as terrible as senile dementia – VM.
Now a team of specialists is launching clinical trials of gene therapy targeting the APOE gene.
According to Futurism, scientists have noticed that if a person inherited the APOE4 variant from one of the parents, and APOE2 from the other, then his risk of disease will be average. Thus, the "good" version of the gene partially compensates for the influence of the "bad" one.
To test this hypothesis, scientists will conduct experiments using gene therapy.
For those who received two copies of the APOE4 variant from their parents, viral vectors with the APOE2 version will be injected into the cerebrospinal fluid. If successful, the "correct" version of the gene will be embedded in the neurons of patients and slow down the development of the disease. The study participants have already begun to show the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, so scientists will be able to track this process.
Experiments on mice and monkeys have already yielded promising results. Of course, this does not guarantee that the technique will work on a person.
Nevertheless, clinical studies give hope that one day one injection will be enough to cure APOE4-associated Alzheimer's disease.
Heredity is far from the only possible cause of Alzheimer's disease. According to a new study, the risk of this disease increases significantly if the Porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium settles in the oral cavity, causing gum inflammation.
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