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Potato Virus May Harbour Alzheimer's Cure
The humble potato may hold the key to Alzheimer's treatment, suggests a new
study.
According to the research, virus that commonly infects potatoes bears a
striking resemblance to one of the key proteins implicated in Alzheimer's
disease (AD), and researchers have used that to develop antibodies that may
slow or prevent the onset of AD.
Studies in mice have demonstrated that vaccinations with the amyloid beta
protein (believed to be a major AD contributor) to produce Ab antibodies can
slow disease progression and improve cognitive function, possibly by promoting
the destruction of amyloid plaques. Some early human trials have likewise been
promising, but had to be halted due to the risk of autoimmune encephalitis.
One way to make Alzheimer's vaccinations safer would be to use a closely
related, but not human, protein as the vaccine, much like cowpox virus is used
for smallpox immunizations.
In the August 15 Journal of Biological Chemistry, Robert Friedland and
colleagues used this concept on an amyloid-like protein found in potato virus
(PVY).
In their research, the team injected PVY into mice followed by monthly boosters
for four months. The researchers found that the mice produced strong levels of
antibodies that could attach to amyloid beta protein both in both solution and
in tissue samples of Alzheimer's patients.
And although the levels were lower, mice also developed Ab antibodies if given
injections of PVY-infected potato leaf as opposed to purified PVY.
The researchers note that potato virus is a fairly common infection that poses
no risk to humans (many people have probably eaten PVY infected potatoes).
While tests of PVY antibodies will ultimately determine how useful they can be,
they may be a promising lead to treating this debilitating disease.
