Gut - Brain, Curli + Alpha Synuclein, EGCG

[pdkid]

scienceofparkinsons.com/202...

This is from last year and gives good insight into one of the gut-brain relationships, particularly how the curli protein in the gut, is connected to the alpha synuclein in the brain. It is hopeful that the EGCG compound (found in Green Tea), is shown to inhibit the curli protein.

One of the studies they link to in this piece:

"In this study, the researchers used genetically engineered mice that produce high levels of human alpha synuclein, and they treated them with curli-producing E. coli bacteria. They found that curli promoted alpha synuclein pathology in both the gut and the brain. And this resulted in behavioral issues, including both intestinal and locomotor impairments.

Interestingly, the investigators also tested a purified subunit (or portion) of curli fibers, called CsgA. They found that CsgA alone was sufficient to accelerate alpha synuclein aggregation, both in cell culture and in mice.

But EVEN MORE interestingly, oral treatment of the amyloid inhibitor EGCG was able to reduce CsgA levels in the gut, limiting alpha synuclein aggregation in the brain, and lowering the behavioural issues."

[park_bear]

Very interesting. Also noteworthy that they used a good animal model.