Astrocytes Show Promise in clearing Brain Plaques Associated with AlzheimerS Disease
Recent research suggests that supporting brain cells, called astrocytes, may hold a key to combating Alzheimer’s disease. Teh study, published in Nature Neuroscience, indicates that bolstering the activity of these cells could perhaps remove existing amyloid plaques – a hallmark of the disease – in mouse models, while simultaneously preserving memory and cognitive function.
Researchers focused on “stellate” astrocytes and their ability to eliminate the toxic build-ups characteristic of Alzheimer’s.The team discovered that increasing the amount of a protein called Sox9, which influences astrocyte function during aging, made these cells more effective at removing amyloid deposits.
“Astrocytes perform several functions essential for normal brain function, including facilitating ‘in-brain’ communications and the storage of memories,” explains Dong-Joo Choi, the study’s first author, who led the work at the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and in the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor and is now a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. “As the brain ages, astrocytes show profound functional alterations. Though,the role of these alterations in neurodegeneration is not yet understood.”
The examination centered on Sox9, a protein that regulates a network of genes involved in astrocyte aging.The experiments were conducted on mouse models of Alzheimer’s that already exhibited cognitive deficits,such as memory loss,and had amyloid plaques present in their brains – mirroring the condition of many human patients. Researchers either increased or decreased the Sox9 gene in these models and then monitored their cognitive performance over a six-month period,testing their ability to recognize familiar objects and locations. Following behavioral assessments, the brains were examined to measure plaque buildup.
The results demonstrated a clear correlation: reducing Sox9 led to faster plaque accumulation, decreased structural complexity in astrocytes, and reduced plaque clearance. Conversely, increasing Sox9 boosted cellular activity, promoted plaque removal, and preserved cognitive performance. These protective benefits suggest that strengthening astrocyte involvement could potentially slow cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases, the authors propose.
“We found that increasing Sox9 expression stimulated astrocytes to ingest more amyloid plaques, eliminating them from the brain like a vacuum cleaner,” concludes researcher Maiken Deneen. “Most current treatments focus on neurons or try to prevent the formation of amyloid plaques. This study suggests that enhancing the natural ability of astrocytes to do housekeeping may be equally crucial.”
Choi, Deneen, and their colleagues emphasize the need for further research to understand the long-term behavior of Sox9 in the human brain. Though,the collected data suggests the possibility of developing therapies that leverage the natural capabilities of astrocytes to combat neurodegenerative diseases.
