A Key to Protecting Brain Cells in Alzheimer’s, MEG3
MEG3 activates necroptosis in human neuron xenografts modeling Alzheimer’s disease
In Alzheimer’s disease, the loss of brain cells is a major problem, but we don’t fully understand why it happens. Scientists did an experiment where they put human and mouse brain cells into mice with Alzheimer’s. They found that only the human brain cells showed some of the problems seen in Alzheimer’s disease. They also discovered a special molecule called MEG3 that’s more active in human brain cells with Alzheimer’s. When they reduced MEG3, it helped protect the human brain cells from dying. This discovery could lead to new ways to treat Alzheimer’s disease.
Balusu S, Horré K, Thrupp N, Craessaerts K, Snellinx A, Serneels L, T’Syen D, Chrysidou I, Arranz AM, Sierksma A, Simrén J, Karikari TK, Zetterberg H, Chen WT, Thal DR, Salta E, Fiers M, De Strooper B. MEG3 activates necroptosis in human neuron xenografts modeling Alzheimer’s disease. Science. 2023 Sep 15;381(6663):1176-1182. doi: 10.1126/science.abp9556. Epub 2023 Sep 14. PMID: 37708272.
