Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have made an exciting discovery that could change how we understand and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
They found that a natural protein in the body, called midkine, may help stop Alzheimer’s from developing. This is the first time midkine has been clearly shown to protect against the disease.
Alzheimer’s is a brain condition that leads to memory loss and confusion. One of its key features is the buildup of a protein called amyloid beta in the brain. This protein sticks together to form clumps, which damage brain cells. But the new research shows that midkine can stop these clumps from forming.
The study was published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology and led by Dr. Junmin Peng and his team. They wanted to know if midkine could actually interact with amyloid beta in a meaningful way.
Using a number of scientific tools like fluorescence sensors and electron microscopes, they showed that midkine binds directly to amyloid beta and stops it from growing into harmful clumps.
To test this, the scientists used a special fluorescent dye that lights up when amyloid beta clumps form. When midkine was added, the light became dimmer, showing that fewer clumps were forming. This suggested that midkine was blocking the growth of amyloid beta in the early stages. More detailed testing confirmed this result.
They also used special mice that are designed to mimic Alzheimer’s disease. These mice usually have a lot of amyloid beta buildup in their brains. But when the scientists removed the midkine gene from the mice, the amount of amyloid beta clumps increased even more. This proved that midkine plays a protective role.
Midkine is normally found in large amounts in embryos and helps with cell growth. It’s also seen in some cancers, which is why it’s being studied as a cancer marker. But its role in Alzheimer’s had been unclear until now.
What makes this research exciting is that it opens the door to new treatments. If scientists can figure out exactly how midkine binds to amyloid beta, they may be able to create new drugs that do the same thing. These drugs could help stop Alzheimer’s from getting worse—or even prevent it from starting.
Dr. Peng says the team now wants to focus on finding small molecules that can copy midkine’s actions. That way, they can create medicines that are easier to use in treating patients. Their ultimate goal is to turn this discovery into a real treatment option for the millions of people affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
In summary, this study shows that midkine—a natural protein already in our bodies—might help protect the brain from Alzheimer’s by preventing harmful protein clumps. It’s a promising step toward understanding the disease better and finding new ways to fight it.
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The study is published in Nature Structural.
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