Metabolic View of Exosomes in Alzheimer’s Disease: Diagnosis, Application and Role in Pathogenesis
Experimental Models for the Understanding of Nervous System Diseases
Cell Biology
Final Report Abstract
Exosomes are small vesicles released by cells to transport information between cells. These vesicles contain various molecules such as DNA, proteins, and metabolic products. They can be found in blood and cerebrospinal fluid and are therefore potential biomarkers for specific diseases. The aim of this research project was to understand the role of exosomes in the alteration of metabolism during Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It is caused by the accumulation of certain abnormal proteins in the brain, leading amongst others to disturbances in metabolic processes in nerve cells. The project involved the analysis of both blood and tissue samples, as well as cell culture models. To examine central nervous system exosomes from blood samples, a new method for isolating exosomes had to be established. This included the identification of specific markers present only in central nervous system exosomes. Furthermore, exosomes from brain tissue samples were investigated. To understand how metabolism changes during Alzheimer's disease, the enzymes and metabolic products present in these exosomes were analyzed. The results showed that exosomes from Alzheimer's patients have different metabolic profiles compared to healthy individuals. These findings could contribute in the future to the discovery of new biomarkers for diagnosing metabolic changes in Alzheimer's disease. Another experiment aimed to explore if exosomes released by diseased cells could also influence healthy cells, potentially contributing to the spread of Alzheimer's disease in the brain. Various cell culture models of healthy nerve cells were established in the laboratory, and these cells were exposed to exosomes from Alzheimer's patients. It was demonstrated that particularly the mitochondria of nerve cells suffered damage, indicating that exosomes might contribute to the spread of metabolic perturbations. Further research on the role of exosomes in Alzheimer's disease could help develop new treatment methods for this condition in the future.
