Scientists hope for one vaccine against brain diseases

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Scientists hope for one vaccine against brain diseases

Tests have suggested a single vaccine could one day be used against a host of incurable brain diseases, including Alzheimer's and CJD.

Scientists found small toxic molecules common to all the diseases could be targeted by an antibody.

The discovery opens up the possibility of one therapy to tackle Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntingdon's and different forms of CJD - as well as type II diabetes.

As these degenerative diseases progress, proteins called amyloids accumulate in the form of fibrils and damage healthy cells.

Although the amyloids are different for each disease, scientists have found they share an intermediate building block necessary for fibril formation.

These molecules, called soluble oligomers, also constitute the toxic element that triggers cell damage.

Researchers in the United States reported in the journal Science today how they found the molecules in brain tissue taken from dead patients with early Alzheimer's.

They also discovered that a particular antibody bound selectively with oligomers, while avoiding amyloid proteins.

The antibody blocked the oligomers' ability to kill cells in all the disease groups studied.

A potential Alzheimer's vaccine has already proved effective in animals. But human clinical trials were halted because of inflammatory side effects in a minority of patients.

 

Story filed: 06:41 Friday 18th April 2003

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