Il laboratorio di Patrick Aebischer al Politecnico federale di Losanna (EPFL) ha sviluppato un trattamento che potrebbe servire a lottare contro il morbo di Alzheimer: si tratta di un impianto che fornisce al cervello un flusso costante di anticorpi. Il dispositivo è stato estato con un successo «totale» sui topi.
Una delle cause probabili di Alzheimer è la formazione di ammassi di proteina beta-amiloide (A-beta) in diverse zone del cervello. Il fenomeno provoca successivamente la formazione di placche, tossiche per i neuroni, spiega l'EPFL in un comunicato. Un mezzo per combattere le placche consiste nel "marcare" le A-beta con anticorpi che allertano il sistema immunitario del paziente, affinché intervenga per distruggerle ed eliminarle. Questo risultato è ottenuto con iniezioni ripetute di vaccino, suscettibili tuttavia di provocare effetti secondari.
La capsula bioattiva sviluppata a Losanna contiene cellule geneticamente modificate per la produzione di anticorpi contro le A-beta. Inserito sotto la pelle, l'impianto diffonde un flusso regolare di anticorpi nella circolazione sanguigna. Tutti i materiali utilizzati sono biocompatibili e la membrana della capsula impedisce al sistema immunitario di identificare e attaccare le cellule.
ATS/Swing
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