Reducir las concentraciones plasmáticas de una proteína conocida como SAP puede ser una estrategia terapéutica para la enfermedad de Alzheimer, según escriben en "Nature" investigadores de la University College Medical School de Londres.
Han ensayado en ratones y también en un pequeño grupo de pacientes- un nuevo fármaco que reduce los niveles de la citada proteína, consiguiendo bloquear en el cerebro de los animales la formación de placas de amiloide.
La proteína SAP es un importante componente de esas placas, características del Alzheimer y de otras enfermedades como la amiloidosis. Se une a las placas y ayuda a prevenir su ruptura. En la investigación se comprobó que el fármaco experimental previene esa unión en los ratones, así como en un grupo de 19 pacientes con amiloidosis. Varios meses de tratamiento reducen los niveles en sangre de SAP y se espera que esta estrategia desestabilice las placas de amiloide hasta el punto de que se consiga la regresión.
En opinión de los autores, la terapia tiene la ventaja de que no implica tratar el Alzheimer con fármacos que lleguen al cerebro, sino tan sólo que eliminen la proteína del torrente sanguíneo.
Webs Relacionadas
University College London
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/
Nature
http://www.nature.com/Nature/
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