Antibody Blocks T Cell Infiltration and Limits Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Mice
Researchers developed a potential antibody-based approach to reducing neurodegeneration in tauopathies, with studies showing that in a mouse Alzheimer’s model anti-CXCR3-treated animals retained more brain tissue and had better memory, even though tau levels stayed the same. The post Antibody Blocks T Cell Infiltration and Limits Neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s Mice appeared first on GEN -…
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's disease by blocking T cell infiltration in the brain. Mice with Alzheimer's-like tau protein accumulation in their brains were used for the study. When injected with an antibody targeting a protein called CXCR3 over several months, the number of T cells in the brain decreased by roughly half.
Despite the tau levels remaining unchanged, these treated mice retained 40% more brain tissue and performed better on memory tests compared to untreated mice. David M. Holtzman, the lead researcher and Distinguished Professor of Neurology, explained that current treatments for tauopathies, like Alzheimer's, do not decrease neurodegeneration.
If the findings prove successful, blocking the CXCR3 pathway could prevent the devastating consequences of these diseases. The research, published in the journal Neuron, suggests that the CXCR3 axis could be a crucial target for mitigating T cell infiltration and conferring neuroprotection in tau-mediated neurodegeneration without altering tau protein levels.
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