Sydney scientists make Alzheimer's breakthrough

Sudney Morrning herald
Louise Hall

Scientists in Sydney have discovered a way to stimulate the brain's own stem cells, which has the potential to lead to a new treatment for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Bryce Vissel and Andrea Abdipranoto at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research identified a chemical, called activin A, that is essential for the brain's own stem cells to form new nerve cells, and to repair the brain, following neurodegeneration.

Using a mouse model, the researchers showed that, following acute nerve cell damage, the brain immediately acts to repair itself by replacing the damaged nerve cells with new cells.

The researchers then showed that the brain does this by releasing activin A. But when the chemical was blocked, regeneration stopped.

After five years of laboratory testing, the researchers made the surprising finding that activin A has an essential but indirect role in regeneration: it works by inhibiting the replication and activation of inflammatory cells.

Both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are associated with a severe inflammation that occurs in response to a loss of nerve cells, said Dr Vissel, Garvan's Head of Research into Neural Plasticity and Regeneration.

"If this inflammation is not properly controlled, it blocks nerve regeneration from the brain's own stem cells," he said.

Activin A appeared to keep the immune system in check so it did not become overactive, allowing regeneration to occur.

"The idea that the brain itself produces an anti-inflammatory that is in turn necessary for regeneration and repair is a very new finding, a finding with significant implications for repair of the brain in chronic neurodegenerative diseases."

Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease result from steady ongoing nerve cell damage in the parts of the brain that control movement and memory, respectively.

At least 300,000 Australians are affected but there is no treatment that will repair the brain or even slow the progression of these devastating diseases.

Dr Vissel said: "We know the brain has the capacity to regenerate. The question is, why do killed or injured nerve cells not get replaced with new nerve cells in Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease?"

The team's breakthrough, published online yesterday in Stem Cells, suggests regeneration could be promoted with anti-inflammatory treatments such as activin A, or other anti-inflammatory drugs.

Dr Vissel said that this..........read the whole article

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