A Unique Camel Protein May Protect the Brain from Alzheimer's Disease

Camel protein and Alzheimer's

                                             

A Unique Camel Protein May Protect the Brain from Alzheimer's Disease

Nanoproteins made from antibodies in animals like camels and llamas can penetrate cellular spaces in ways no other antibodies can.

Growing evidence suggests these tiny molecules could be used to protect the brain from difficult-to-treat conditions like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia, according to Science Alert, citing the journal Trends in Pharmacological Sciences.

A team of scientists at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) explained in a new research paper that the small size of the antibodies makes them ideal for reaching and treating the brain with fewer side effects, even though currently approved nanobody-based therapies are intended for other parts of the body.

Super-Precise Biological Cleanup

Antibodies are proteins used by the immune system to identify viruses, toxins, and other substances as waste, which are then dealt with by the body's "biological cleanup team."

Nanobions are simplified versions of these proteins, possessing a sleek and precise structure that allows them to penetrate the virus's defenses and disable its most dangerous components.

Camels, Llamas, and Alpacas

Animals in the camel family (camels, llamas, and alpacas) produce antibodies that are smaller than their human counterparts. Scientists have successfully enhanced these antibodies in the lab to be about 10 times smaller than the traditional Y-shaped immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody. 

While sharks are also known to produce nanobodies, mammals most closely related to humans possess biological mechanisms that make them more capable of supporting human immunity.

Nanobodies derived from camels have proven effective in protecting humans against influenza A and B, norovirus (which causes gastroenteritis), COVID-19, and even HIV.

Two major obstacles

Until recently, it was widely believed that nanobodies were unsuitable for treating brain disorders; Because the kidneys quickly eliminate them before they reach their target, and because they have difficulty crossing the blood-brain barrier, a vital checkpoint that prevents most drugs from reaching the central nervous system.

Engineered Models Bypass the Barrier

But recent studies have managed to overcome these challenges. Laboratory experiments on animal models have shown that engineered nanobodies can cross the blood-brain barrier and target and remove tau and beta-amyloid proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.

A New Therapeutic Era

In this context, Philippe Rondard, a neuropharmacologist at the CNRS, said: "Nanobodies derived from camels are opening a new era of biological therapies for brain disorders and are revolutionizing thinking about treatment approaches."

He also confirmed that they could become "a new class of drugs that lies between traditional antibodies and small molecules."

Clear Benefits and Many Questions

Pierre-André Lafont, a functional genomics scientist, explained that these proteins are "small, highly soluble, and can passively enter the brain." Conversely, small drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier are often hydrophobic, which reduces their bioavailability, increases the likelihood of them binding to non-target sites, and raises the risk of side effects.

Lafon also noted the need to understand how these proteins cross the blood-brain barrier and how long they remain in the brain to determine optimal dosages. Researchers will also need to develop stable formulations that can withstand long-term storage and transport from the laboratory to the patient.

He concluded, "These factors have already been studied in some brain-penetrating nanoparticles, and the results show that the treatment regimens are compatible with chronic use."