[B.Bumbleberry]

Someone with better background can judge whether this represents a true milestone. It appears so from a lay perspective. Wonder what the "anti-RAGE" and "soluable RAGE" chemicals consisted of.

[lepton]

It's also interesting why RAGE molecules would be produced by the cells in the barrier layer, and what is supposed to be happening, but isn't, when the molecules are disabled.

[RippleFire]

bump

[SierraWasp]

"...get through by riding piggyback on a much larger molecule, called RAGE."

I don't know, but I'll bet that punk-rock band will have to change it's name from "Rage Against the Machine," to "Rage against the Molecule!"

No kidding... This is a great breakthrough!!!

Just wish it had been found in time for Ronaldus Magnus!

[RonF]

B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Biochemistry with an emphasis on protein chemistry:

Yes, I'd say that this is definitely a huge milestone. Understanding how the beta amyloid got transported past the blood-brain barrier is big in itself. Coming up with a method for inhibiting it is even bigger.

I haven't looked up RAGE yet, but judging by it's name it's going to be a complex glyco-protein (a protein molecule with pieces of carbohydrate attached, both having specific makeup and structure). Such things can be synthesized once the structure and sequences are completely determined (grunt work, but highly doable). Or, they can find a way to genetically engineer some other organism to produce it biologically. We're taking expensive but effective therapy.

[Cicero]

It sounds very promising. There are still questions to be answered. Does it have side effects? Playing with a protein that governs transfers through the body/brain barrier is obviously a delicate matter. It might affect other transfers or balances, perhaps in some subtle, long-term way. But still very promising, especially for people who are clearly Alzheimer's prone.

[TheDon]

So much for PETA and the "anti-animal testing" crowd.

[gcruse]

May be Big News, Brzezinski.

[aruanan]

It appears so from a lay perspective. Wonder what the "anti-RAGE" and "soluable RAGE" chemicals consisted of.

RAGE isn't a chemical. It's a receptor. As such, it binds to certain ligands. Some receptors are also transporters. Apparently RAGE facilitates the transfer of certain glycosylated proteins across the blood/brain barrier. The endogenous RAGE is found anchored in the cell membrane of cells composing the blood vessel. In this experiment, the soluble form of RAGE lacked the sequences necessary to anchor it, so it was free to circulate in the blood. Its ability to bind the amyloid-beta proteins, though, was not impaired by the loss of the parts that kept it in place in the cells where it is normally expressed. RAGE is also being studied in connection with diseases related to diabetes. This news is really big. If the protein is such that it could be produced by recombinant means as is insulin, then it could be a powerful treatment, though not cure, for Alzheimers. Three cheers for animal experimentation!