Miniature proteins derived from camel and llama antibodies may help treat brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia.
Publika.az reports that the scientists of the National Scientific Research Center in France came to this conclusion.
The study was published in the journal Trends in Pharmacological Sciences.
These animal-derived antibodies, called “nanocores,” are about ten times smaller than the large Y-shaped molecules of the human immune system. However, they retain the ability to recognize and neutralize viruses and toxic proteins. Due to their size, they can penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the body that are inaccessible to standard antibodies.
Camels, llamas and alpacas are among the few mammals that naturally produce such miniature antibodies.
In the laboratory, scientists have improved their properties to create more compact and stable molecules. It is already known that nanocors can successfully protect the body from influenza viruses, COVID-19 and HIV.
However, their use against brain diseases was considered doubtful. Because the kidneys remove them from the bloodstream very quickly, and the blood-brain barrier does not allow large molecules to pass through. However, new experiments have shown that modified nanocores can overcome this barrier and reach damaged areas. In animal experiments, they successfully bind to tau proteins and beta-amyloid, the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. This opens a new era in biological therapy for brain diseases.
Scientists say these molecules could become a new class of drugs that combine the advantages of antibodies and small chemical compounds. However, before using them on humans, scientists must check the stability of the method and be absolutely sure of its safety.
Laman
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