Biomedics discover potential link between nitric oxide and dementia
Wednesday 12th January 2011
Researchers in biomedical science jobs have established a potentially crucial link between the production of nitric oxide in the brain and dementia.
The substance amyloid-beta, which is produced when plaques develop in the brain during Alzheimer's, attaches to cell surface receptors that affect the production of nitric oxide, according to scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences.
Researchers found that the amyloid-beta component binds to the CD36 cell surface receptor, which prompts decreased guanylate cyclase enzyme activity, in turn reducing signalling for nitric oxide.
Commenting on the findings, the Public Library of Science One study co-author Jeffrey Isenberg explained that there is evidence suggesting enhancing nitric oxide levels can protect against brain neuron degeneration.
He added: "It's possible that an agent that could block either CD36 or CD47 could slow the progress of neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's by protecting the production of nitric oxide in the brain."
However, recent research suggests that the onset of Alzheimer's may happen before the onset of amyloid plaques, which are characteristic of the condition.
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine found that a gene variant that affects brain function appears long before the brain accumulates these plaques.
Written by Mathew Horton
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