Shear flow in narrow channels sparks amyloid formation, experiments reveal
Many cars and not enough lanes is a recipe for traffic jams. Now, researchers from Japan show that even proteins can get backed up and start behaving poorly when too many try to squeeze too quickly through a small space.
Researchers from Japan have discovered that narrow channels and shear stress can contribute to the formation of amyloid fibrils, which are implicated in diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The study, published in The FEBS Journal, used a peristaltic pump to create shear stress in a protein solution flowing through a microchannel grid.
The team observed that fibrils formed at the narrow vertices of semicircular tubing and at the intersections of perpendicular channels. Local pressure changes helped clear some of the amyloid deposits, while the chemical agent guanidine hydrochloride effectively dissolved the remaining amyloids. The researchers also found that the green tea compound epigallocatechin gallate could both prevent and reverse amyloid formation, depending on its concentration.
These findings suggest that mechanical stress and blood vessel geometry play significant roles in amyloid formation, and that a combination of mechanical pressure and chemical inhibitors could potentially help dissolve amyloids after they have formed. Understanding these triggers may aid in better understanding amyloidosis and developing future risk assessment strategies.
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