What the Korean researchers said
‘Elemental circuit’ promotes dementia
Published in world-class journals
Investigating the fact that the ‘factor circuit’ of reactive astrocytes in the brain promotes dementia in the memory decline of Alzheimer’s dementia. / Institute of Basic Science (IBS)
A Korean research team has identified the fact that the ‘factor circuit’ of reactive astrocytes in the brain promotes dementia in the memory decline of Alzheimer’s dementia.
According to the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) on the 23rd, the research team led by Chang-Jun Lee, director of the Cognitive and Sociality Research Center and Dr. Ju Ha-Ha, in collaboration with KIST, confirmed the existence of urea circuits in astrocytes and found that activated urea circuits promote dementia.
‘Reactive star cells’, which increase in number and size due to the surrounding environment such as Alzheimer’s or inflammation, express MAO-B enzyme and generate GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, from putrescine. , causing memory loss.
The research team revealed that the ‘urea cycle’, which detoxifies harmful ammonia in the liver to produce urea, the main component of urine, also exists in star cells in the brain.
Furthermore, it was confirmed that the urea cycle activated in reactive astrocytes induces the production of putrescine and GABA to induce dementia.
The research team confirmed that the activity and expression levels of OTC, ARG1, ODC1, the enzymes constituting the urea cycle, and the amount of synthesized urea increased in star cells treated with amyloid beta, a toxic substance.
Investigating the fact that the ‘factor circuit’ of reactive astrocytes in the brain promotes dementia in the memory decline of Alzheimer’s dementia. / Institute of Basic Science (IBS)
Activation of this urea circuit was also found in actual Alzheimer’s patients.
At this time, it was confirmed that, when ODC1 was specifically inhibited, putrescine and GABA produced through the urea cycle decreased, as well as the memory of Alzheimer’s model mice.
It has been proven through experiments that memory can be restored by suppressing the activity of the urea cycle and reducing putrescine and GABA, which cause dementia.
In this study, it was revealed that the activation of the urea cycle according to reactive astrocytes and resulting GABA and free radicals are the key causes of dementia.
Director Chang-Jun Lee said, “We have confirmed the potential of ODC1, the urea cycle enzyme, as a leading material for a new inhibitor.
Meanwhile, this study was published online in the world-renowned academic journal ‘Cell Metabolism’.
Kim Hyun-deok, reporter at Hankyung.com khd9987@hankyung.com
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