Researchers at Sunkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy have released a study result, which can be applied to preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Researchers at Sunkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy, led by Professor Jo Dong-gyu, have released a new study result that can be applied to preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease in joint research with the Korea Brain Research Institute. (SKKU)
Researchers at Sunkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy, led by Professor Jo Dong-gyu, have released a new study result that can be applied to preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease in joint research with the Korea Brain Research Institute. (SKKU)

The team, led by Professor Jo Dong-gyu, has identified a new mechanism that inhibits necroptosis and amyloid accumulation while suppressing various dementia conditions in joint research with the Korea Brain Research Institute.

In a patient’s brain suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the O-GlcNAcylation drops compared to a normal brain, they said. Based on the observation, researchers demonstrated for the first time that the recovery of O-GlcNAcylation suppresses necroptosis and other symptoms of dementia.

In AD patients and animal models’ brain, proteins associated with necroptosis are activated, which destroys the cell membrane in clusters. O-GlcNAcylation blocks the cell necrosis by applying itself to RIPK3, a core protein for cell death.

“O-GlcNAcylation seems to be closely related to various degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer’s dementia,” Professor Jo said. “The study could provide a new direction to overcome Alzheimer’s disease and degenerative brain disease.” 

The study results were published Thursday in Science Advances Thursday.

 

 

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