Leveraging Genetically Encoded engiNeered protEins foR Next-Generation alzheImer'S Therapeutics

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Other
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Is this the right time to use next-generation approaches in Alzheimer's disease (AD)? In recent years, several large clinical trials testing treatments for AD have failed, putting the entire field on a reset. AD drug trials have almost exclusively sought to use antibodies targeted toward misfolded amyloid and tau proteins. Of note, although these approaches have failed, they were designed to cover both familial and sporadic forms of AD. On the other hand, the failure in developing new effective drugs is attributed to, but not limited to, the highly heterogeneous nature of AD with multiple underlying hypotheses and multifactorial pathology. The idea underlying this project is based on the assumption that learning and memory disorders can arise when the connections between neurons do not change appropriately in response to experience. Thus, by intervening on the core mechanisms of the cellular correlate of learning and memory, i.e., synaptic plasticity, the investigators expect to preserve some of the essential brain functions in AD. By overcoming the limits of traditional AD therapeutic approaches, the investigators will use genetically encoded engineered proteins (GEEPs), which the investigators developed and tested in vitro and in murine models, to control their activity in living human neurons boosting synaptic plasticity. Indeed, outstanding and relevant progress in understanding synaptic physiology empowers the possibility to prevent or limit brain disease like never before. The investigators designed GEEPs to address some of the leading causes of synaptic plasticity failures documented in AD. Thus, GEEPs will be tested in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived living neurons obtained from reprogrammed peripheral tissues of participants with Alzheimer's diseases. hiPSCs will be obtained from fibroblast-derived from a skin biopsy of participants with AD and controls performed in local anesthesia using a 4 mm punch. The findings will provide the first preclinical study on the effect of genetically engineered proteins to control essential pathways implicated in synaptic plasticity on AD-related cognitive decline.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 80
Healthy Volunteers: t
View:

• Manifest clinical criteria for probable AD;

• Age between 18 and 80 years;

• Signed informed consent obtained;

Locations
Other Locations
Italy
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS
RECRUITING
Roma
Time Frame
Start Date: 2023-12-19
Estimated Completion Date: 2027-02-28
Participants
Target number of participants: 14
Treatments
Experimental: Alzheimer's disease patients
To test engineered proteins in human neurons derived from skin biopsy from Alzheimer's disease patients
Sham_comparator: Neurotypical control patients
To test engineered proteins in human neurons derived from skin biopsy from neurotypical control patients
Sponsors
Leads: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov

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