20-March-2012 - New hope for treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Role for the FKBP52 protein

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New research in humans published today reveals that the so-called FKBP52 protein may prevent the Tau protein from turning pathogenic. This may prove significant for the development of new Alzheimer’s drugs and for detecting the disease before the onset of clinical symptoms.

A study published online today in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (1), for the first time demonstrates that the FKBP52 protein, discovered by Prof. Etienne BAULIEU twenty years ago, may prevent hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein, which has been shown to characterise a number of cerebral neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

This work has been carried out by Professor Etienne Baulieu and his research team at Inserm (National Institute for medical research in France) with the support of philanthropists who help the Institut Baulieu, based in France.

Limited research exists on Tau and its role in the development of AD, but it is known that many neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by the deposition of pathological hyperphosphorylated forms of Tau protein, into structures known as ‘Tau tangles’. The mechanism of Tau toxicity is unclear and there are currently no drug treatments targeting Tau, nor any biomarkers that predict the risk of a future “Tauopathy”. Professor Baulieu decided to focus on Tau abnormalities and was the first to discover in 2010, an interaction between Tau, and the FKBP52 protein (2).

The new research takes his previous research to the next level. It demonstrates a direct correlation between high levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein and reduced levels of FKBP52, in brain cells from patients who have died following Alzheimer’s Disease, compared with normal brain cells. This suggests that FKBP52 could control the aberrant production of pathogenic Tau. When FKBP52 is reduced in the nerve cells of AD patients, pathogenic Tau is free to accumulate and contribute to the degeneration of brain cells.

In conclusion, early measurement of FKBP52 levels could form the basis of a predictive test for Alzheimer’s Disease before the onset of clinical symptoms, and new compounds modulating FKBP52's activity could become the next generation of treatments for the disease.

Commenting on this new research, Professor Baulieu said:
“There is still a worrying lack of research into the causes of age-related brain disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease and dementia. I founded the Institut Baulieu, with the aim of being able to treat and even prevent these diseases.

Research on Tau has been very limited, and until recently, I was among the few scientists focusing on Tau pathology. The discovery of the FKBP52 protein is the only ‘anti-Tau’ perspective so far. Its reduced production in the brains of Alzheimer's patients marks a turning point in understanding this complex disease.

I believe it takes us one step closer to developing an effective treatment and possible predictive tests for the increasing number of people who may develop Alzheimer's Disease in our ageing societies.”

About Professor Baulieu
Professor Etienne Baulieu is a world renowned scientist, Doctor in Medicine and Physics, Member and Former President of the French Academy of Sciences, Member of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA and recipient of the prestigious Lasker Award (USA).
He created and headed the INSERM molecular metabolism and steroid physiopathology research unit from 1963 to 1997, and was a professor of biochemistry at Université Paris XI from 1970 to 1993. A professor of the Collège de France, he has held the chair in “Foundations and principles of human reproduction” from 1993 to 1997. He has also been a member of France's National Consultative Committee on Ethics for Life Sciences and Healthcare since 1996.

Specializing in the field of hormones during his career, he has discovered several compounds relating to the aging process and the reproductive cycle. After working on several cerebral hormones, Professor Baulieu turned his interest and expertise to the area of neurodegenerative disease and related senile dementias.

About Tau and FKBP52
Tau protein occurs naturally in the central nervous system and plays an important role in the correct functioning of nerves. When it fails to work properly, it forms tangles that disrupt the activity of nerve cells, which is thought to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease and several other forms of neurodegenerative diseases, and some types of dementia.
FKBP52 is known as an "immunophilin", and is thought to play a role in the control of protein folding within human cells. In 2010, Professor Baulieu and his team discovered that FKBP52 protein was able to significantly reduce the toxic effects of Tau accumulation (2). FKBP52, which is abundant in human brain cells, binds directly to and acte specifically on Tau function.

References
(1) 'Decrease of the Immunophilin FKBP52 Accumulation in Human Brains of Alzheimer’s Disease and FTDP-17'  Julien Giustiniani, Marlène Sineus, Elodie Sardin, Omar Dounane, Maï Panchal, Véronique Sazdovitch, Charles Duyckaerts, Béatrice Chambraud, Etienne-Emile Baulieu
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Volume 29, issue 2 (March 2012)

(2) A role for FKBP52 in Tau protein function. Béatrice Chambraud, Elodie Sardin, Julien Giustiniani, Omar Dounane, Michael Schumacher, Michel Goedert, and Etienne-Emile Baulieu, (2010) Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A., Vol. 107, pp: 2658-2663

The Baulieu Institute (French language)   http://www.institut-baulieu.org