By Arya Jayasree
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and is also known as the leading cause of dementia in the elderly today. The disease is characterised by the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain, which leads to the destruction of neurons along with cognitive decline. Despite years of research, there is unfortunately no cure for Alzheimer's disease currently. However, recent advances in immunotherapy have shown promise in the use of T-cells to target and eliminate the abnormal proteins that cause Alzheimer's disease.
To begin with, let’s dig deeper into what exactly T-cells are. T-cells, also known as T lymphocytes, are a type of white blood cell that plays a vital role in the immune system. They’re responsible for recognizing and attacking foreign particles, such as pathogens, along with cancer cells and other abnormal cells. They get activated by specific molecules called antigens, which are present on the surface of these abnormal cells.
One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease is the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. These proteins tend to contribute to the destruction of neurons, hence contributing to Alzheimer’s inducing factors. Since T-cells possess the ability to identify and target abnormal cells such as these proteins, researchers have been exploring their use in the development of a cure. This research may offer a promising approach to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, making it a revolutionary discovery.
One approach to utilising T-cells in the cure of Alzheimer's disease is to develop vaccines that assist in the stimulation of the immune system to produce T-cells that target the abnormal proteins itself in the brain. Vaccines function by introducing a small, inactive and harmless fragment of the abnormal protein, known as an antigen, into the body, which triggers the body to release an immune response. The immune response will then consecutively generate T-cells that specifically recognize and attack the abnormal protein, without harming healthy cells in the brain.
Several studies have explored the use of vaccines in the treatment of the disease, fortunately with promising results. For instance , a study published in the journal “Lancet Neurology” in 2015 reported that a vaccine targeting amyloid-beta ( harmful protein) reduced the accumulation of it in the brains of patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. The study found that the vaccine was safe for use and well-tolerated by the body, while consecutively proving that it was successfully able to identify and eliminate the amyloid-beta cell. Another approach to using T-cells in the cure of Alzheimer's is to engineer the cells to recognize and attack the abnormal proteins in the brain, known as genetic engineering.
This approach involves modifying the T-cells so that they express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which is a synthetic molecule that identifies the abnormal protein and activates the T-cell to fire against the target cell. Many studies have also investigated the use of CAR engineered T-cells as well. The studies found that the CAR T-cells were able to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which is a protective barrier that prevents most substances from entering the brain, and that they specifically recognized and attacked the abnormal protein.
One of the primary benefits of using T-cells to treat the illness is their ability to specifically target and eliminate amyloid beta plaques, which are believed to play a prominent part in the development and progression of Alzheimer's. By using T-cells to clear these plaques, it may be possible to slow or even eradicate the progression of the disease, leading to improved cognitive function and quality of life for patients. T-cell therapy also have shown to display the potential benefit of preventing the recurrence of the disease. Although the current treatments focus on managing symptoms, none address the underlying cause of Alzheimer’s itself. Their ability to target the plaques may be able to eliminate the source of the disease which in turn prevents it from returning in the future.
However, despite the many advantages, the therapy does however come with its own risks. One risk is the possibility of an overactive immune response. T-cells are a type of immune cell, and when they are activated, they can release inflammatory chemicals that tend to have the ability to harm healthy cells if the impulse is too strong , this could result in unwanted side effects. Finally, there is the risk of the therapy not being effective, which stays true for all medical treatments. While studies have shown promise, there is still much that is unaware about the use of T-cells in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is possible that the therapy may not be effective in all patients or that the benefits may be limited.
In conclusion, the use of T-cells in the cure of Alzheimer's disease holds great promise for the future. With the potential to target the underlying pathology of the disease, T-cell therapies offer a new approach to Alzheimer's treatment that could transform the lives of millions of people. However, the risks associated with these treatments must also be considered, and further research is needed to fully understand the safety and efficacy of T-cell therapies for Alzheimer's. Despite these challenges, the growing body of evidence suggests that T-cell therapies may hold the key to unlocking new and effective treatments for this devastating disease. As research continues, it is hopeful that these therapies will one day become a standard of care for those affected by Alzheimer's disease.
Bibliography
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/research_progress/clinical_trials/t-cells-in-alzheimers disease-heroes-or-villains
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.558865/full https://www.cell.com/trends/molecular-medicine/fulltext/S1471-4914(19)30092-7 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13311-019-00802-3
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/amyloid-beta
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