Case Western Reserve to Explore Brain Protein Links to Alzheimer's Onset

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University will study specific brain proteins possibly involved in Alzheimer's onset, focusing on the BBB and Eph receptors. Collaborating with other institutions, their goal is to uncover new insights that could lead to effective treatments for this devastating neurological disease.

Case Western Reserve University is set to embark on an investigation into the role specific brain proteins may play in initiating Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's, a degenerative neurological disorder, impairs thinking and memory and affects nearly 7 million Americans aged 65 and older, claiming more lives than breast and prostate cancer combined, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

Previous studies indicate that Alzheimer's may begin when the blood-brain barrier (BBB) weakens, allowing toxic substances to enter the brain. The National Institutes of Health-backed study will explore the role of epitope (Eph) receptors in Alzheimer's. Initially researched by Bing-Cheng Wang for their involvement in brain development and cancer, these proteins mediate cell-to-cell interactions.

Matthias Buck, a professor of physiology and biophysics at the School of Medicine, suspects these proteins could be linked to the disintegration of the BBB, a factor critical for brain protection during strokes and early Alzheimer's stages. Buck's team, in collaboration with Texas Tech University and the University of Tennessee, will use advanced imaging and computational techniques to study the Eph receptor protein in living cells. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center scientists will utilize crystallography to detail the protein's structure.

"Alzheimer's is very complex, which is why this project requires a collaboration of special skills," Buck noted. He emphasized the plan to involve more local and national partners as research progresses, anticipating breakthroughs that could lead to effective treatments for a disease impacting millions globally.

(With inputs from agencies.)