Science is progressing and, over time, it offers us novelties and improvements to increase our quality and life expectancy. One of the latest advances is the development of a nanocuerpo which has the ability to bypass brain cells and possibly treat Alzheimer’s disease Parkinsons.
This nanobody was created by several researchers from the Johns Hopkins Universityas part of a study to find new ways to treat diseases caused by deformed proteins.
Antibodies are useless
These proteins, called alpha-synuclein, are able to travel from the gut or nose to the brain, causing progressive and exponential worsening of the diseases.
Generally, our body makes antibody to deal with these proteins and thus stop any kind of evil. However, its effectiveness becomes noula when, to fight against a neurological disease, they need cross brain cells.
This is precisely the obstacle they tried to overcome with the study. To do this, they decided to use nanocuerpos, which are the smaller version of antibodies. However, these agents have another obstacle, which is that when crossing the brain cell, lose stability and may end up fulfilling another function.
To avoid this, they genetically modified them to destroy the chemical bonds that are affected within a cell. After several experiences in rodentsthey observed that kept its stability and could fight deformed proteins.
The PFFNB2, the most efficient
In total, the research team made up of up to seven similar types of nanobodies, with the prefix PFFNB, capable of processing alpha-synuclein groups. The prototype that offered the best performance was the second, the PFFNB2which joins the groups of deformed proteins, without being distracted by other types of molecules.
Now, PFFNB2 is not able to separate or prevent harmful proteins from clustering, but it can disrupt and destabilize the structure of these groups.
“Surprisingly, we induced PFFNB2 expression in the cortex and this prevented the alpha-synuclein clusters from spreading to the mouse cerebral cortex, the region responsible for cognition, movement, personality and development. ‘other higher-order processes’, explains Ramhari Kumbharco-author of the book.
Mao, associate professor of neurology, celebrates research success. believes that, although this is only the beginning, it could be “key” to help scientists analyze neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’sand perform new treatments.