Researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Central South University (CSU) in China have for the first time identified a gene that increases the risk of Alzheimers disease.

Dr. Weihong Song

In the study, published recently in the journal JCI Insight, the researchers found two mutations in the gene endothelin-converting enzyme 2 (ECE2) which impaired its ability to break down amyloid beta protein. These mutations were present significantly more often in people with Alzheimers than in controlssuggesting that the genetic variants in ECE2 could be causing, or at least contributing to, Alzheimers symptoms.

Since amyloid beta protein is unique to Alzheimers disease, the majority of drug development was targeted here, says Dr. Weihong Song, who is the Canada Research Chair in Alzheimers disease, professor in the faculty of medicines department of psychiatry, Jack Brown and Family Professor, and director of UBCs Townsend Family Laboratories. If we can prevent amyloid beta protein build up or at least find a way to get rid of some of it, we could prevent and treat the disease.

Dr. Songs laboratory at UBC collaborated with Dr. Lu Shens team at Xiangya Hospital at CSU for the study. The studys lead author is Dr. Xinxin Lio who completed a joint PhD at UBC and CSU.

The scientists looked at 741 people with late-onset Alzheimers and compared them to controls. Unlike early-onset which affects people as young as 30, late-onset Alzheimers is the most common form of this disease, generally affecting individuals after the age of 65.

Dr. Xinxin Lio

Dr. Songs lab focuses their efforts on looking at the role amyloid beta protein plays in Alzheimers. Its well established that increased production (or reduced degradation) of amyloid beta protein results in the formation of neuritic plaques in the brain, which is a hallmark of Alzheimers disease neuropathology.

The team injected the mutated forms of the ECE2 gene into mice. They found mice with the mutation had increased levels of amyloid beta protein and plaque formation, and also exhibited some signs of Alzheimers such as memory loss. When they expressed the wildtype form of the gene in the mice (i.e. the non-mutated form), amyloid beta protein levels decreased and the mice recovered some of their learning and memory deficits.

These findings mean that ECE2 is a risk gene for people to develop Alzheimers later in life, says Dr. Song. Moving forward, we can try to target this gene and increase its expression as a way to treat Alzheimers.

Moving forward, we can try to target this gene and increase its expression as a way to treat Alzheimers.Dr. Weihong Song, Canada Research Chair in Alzheimers Disease

The researchers are now screening further for genetic mutations in a larger dataset as a way to validate these findings and to search for other variants in the ECE2 gene that could be contributing to Alzheimers symptoms.

Read more here:
Scientists discover gene that increases risk of Alzheimer's disease - UBC Faculty of Medicine