Dividing Cells May Contribute To Alzheimer's Disease

Neurodegeneration consists of the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, often resulting in neural cell death. The causes of cell death in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are incompletely understood. Mature neurons in healthy individuals do not divide; however, degenerating neurons express a protein, c-Myc (Myc), which regulates cell division.

Lee et al therefore explored the role of re-entry into the cell cycle, leading to cell division, in the neurodegenerative pathogenesis. They found that expression of Myc in forebrain neurons resulted in cell cycle re-entry. Furthermore, Myc expression resulted in neural cell death and cognitive defects. Neurodegeneration, therefore, may be a disease of dysregulated cell-cycle control, and cell-cycle regulators should be explored as future treatment targets.

Dr. Lee and colleagues "strengthen [their] hypothesis that neurodegeneration in [Alzheimer's disease], like cellular proliferation in cancer, is a disease of inappropriate cell cycle control." They "establish a model [that] provides a working platform to test genetic and pharmacologic approaches to block cycle re-entry" and thus explore new methods of treating neurodegenerative diseases.