Enhancing Brain Immune Cell Enzyme Could Offer New Treatment Path for Alzheimer's

Recent preclinical research conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center highlights a promising approach to combat Alzheimer’s disease by focusing on the brain’s immune cells. Scientists have discovered that increasing levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) specifically in microglia, the immune cells of the brain, can significantly protect and potentially reverse the neurodegenerative effects of Alzheimer’s. The study demonstrated that genetic engineering techniques used to boost ACE expression in these cells led to a reduction in amyloid plaques—the protein clusters associated with Alzheimer’s symptoms—in laboratory mice. These mice showed marked improvements in neural health and cognitive functions, including better performance in learning and memory tasks.

Dr. Warren Tourtellotte, the senior author of the study, explained that enhancing ACE in microglia seems to rejuvenate these immune cells, allowing them to more effectively clear harmful amyloid plaques and repair neural damage. The findings suggest that microglial overexpression of ACE not only reduces plaque accumulation but also alleviates neurodegeneration.

The next phase of research aims to verify whether similar mechanisms occur in human microglia, which could pave the way for developing innovative cell-based therapies. Such treatments might be used alone or alongside existing options to slow or potentially reverse Alzheimer’s progression.

This breakthrough underscores the importance of understanding immune system contributions to neurodegenerative diseases and highlights a novel target—ACE in microglia—that could lead to more effective interventions in the future. As Alzheimer's currently affects over 7 million Americans, these insights have significant potential to transform treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.