by Wiley
scan of a human brain with Alzheimer's disease. Credit: public domain
In people with a rare condition called light chain amyloidosis, light chain proteins—which are a component of antibodies—mutate and build up in different organs. In new research published in The FEBS Journal, investigators have identified and characterized an antibody fragment that can bind to abnormal light chains to stabilize them and prevent their aggregation.
The findings could have an important clinical impact because the current prognosis for individuals with light chain amyloidosis is extremely poor, and current treatments, which rely on attacking the defective light chain-producing cells, are difficult to tolerate.
The results may also be applicable to other forms of amyloidosis, including Alzheimer's disease.
"We are excited by this finding, which has potential to provide a much-needed treatment for people diagnosed with light chain amyloidosis," said corresponding author Jillian Madine, Ph.D., of the University of Liverpool, in the UK.
More information: Enhanced stabilisation and reduced fibril forming potential of an amyloidogenic light chain using a variable heavy domain to mimic the homodimer complex, FEBS Journal (2024). DOI: 10.1111/febs.17223
Provided by Wiley
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