In many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, the propagation and spreading of misfolded proteins in the nervous system has been linked to the progression of the disease. In a recent review article in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Professor Dr. Mathias Jucker at the HIH and Professor Dr. Lary Walker at the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, USA, argue that this spreading is conceptually similar to metastic cancer. “The difference is that in degenerative brain disorders, there are misfolded proteins that proliferate rather than transformed cells,” Jucker says. As in the case of cancer cells, the spreading of misfolded proteins and thus disease progression depends on both the misfolded protein (seed) and the host milieu – the soil. “The seed must fall on fertile ground for the development and progression of the disease. Itis therefore essential to understand both the pathogen and its environment to develop treatment strategies.”
Professor Dr. Mathias Jucker (Photo: Rappers/HIH)
