Compound Could Protect Against Neurological Damage
Researchers have identified a new mechanism of action of the compound rapamycin that may help prevent neurologic disease such as Alzheimer’s disease. Their findings are published online in Aging Cell.
“It’s possible this could provide a new therapeutic approach to neurologic disease,” said researcher Viviana Perez, PhD, an assistant professor at Oregon State University and expert on the biological processes of aging.
“The value of rapamycin is clearly linked to the issue of cellular senescence, a stage cells reach where they get old, stop proliferating, and begin to secrete damaging substances that lead to inflammation,” Dr. Perez said. “Rapamycin appears to help stop that process.”
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When damaging compounds are secreted, the toxic environment that results is called senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).
“The increase in cellular senescence associated with aging, and the inflammation associated with that, can help set the stage for a wide variety of degenerative disease, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and neurologic disease, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s,” Dr. Perez explained. “In laboratory animals when we clear out senescent cells, they live longer and have fewer diseases. And rapamycin can have similar effects.”
A natural compound discovered in the soils of Easter Island in the South Pacific Ocean, rapamycin was previously believed to have a single mechanism of action: reduce levels of SASP by increasing the action of Nrf2, a master regulator that can stimulate up to 200 genes responsible for cell repair, carcinogen detoxification, protein and lipid metabolism, antioxidant protection, and other factors.
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However, the new study concludes that rapamycin may have a direct effect on SASP levels, separate from the Nrf2 pathway, and may even impact neurons and other types of cells.
“Any new approach to help protect neurons from damage could be valuable,” said Dr. Perez. “Other studies, for instance, have shown that astrocyte cells that help protect neuron function and health can be damaged by SASP. This may be one of the causes of some neurologic diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
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