Direct Method Measures Enzyme Implicated in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

In an advance that may speed progress toward new diagnostic tests for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), scientists have developed a direct method for measuring a key enzyme implicated in both of those chronic brain disorders. The enzyme, 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 10 (17ß-HSD10), is a potential biomarker that could be used to diagnose AD and PD and chronicle the effectiveness of treatments.

Studies found that PD patients have reduced levels of the enzyme, while increased levels seem to protect laboratory mice from the disease. 17ß-HSD10 also attaches to the abnormal brain protein in AD, perhaps contributing to the loss of brain cells. Despite the importance of this emerging physiologic and pathologic marker, there were no agents available for direct imaging of 17ß-HSD10 in living cells and tissues.

In a study published in the October 25, 2007 online issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, Dr. Dalibor Sames and Dr. Mary K. Froemming, from the department of chemistry, Columbia University (New York, NY, USA), described a new fluorogenic probe that enables the direct activity measurement of 17ß-HSD10 in live human cells, through fluorescent microscopy. In laboratory tests on human cells, they showed that the new imaging agent lit up in the presence of 17ß-HSD10 to permit non-invasive, real-time monitoring of the enzyme's activity. "This new imaging agent will be used to elucidate the biological functions of this important physiological marker,” the study reported.


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