Nature: Toxic fatty acids are the culprit of brain cell death after injury

A new study in rodents shows that neuronal cells usually nourish healthy brain cells and release toxic fatty acids when neurons are damaged
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Researchers say this phenomenon may be the driving factor behind most, if not all, diseases that affect brain function and the natural breakdown of brain cells during aging

Previous research has pointed out that astrocytes-a type of astrocyte of the central nervous system-are responsible for cell death in Parkinson's disease, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases
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Although many experts believe that these cells release a neuron-killing molecule to "clean up" damaged brain cells, the identity of this toxin remains a mystery

The new study, led by researchers at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, provides what they say is the first evidence that tissue damage causes astrocytes to produce two types of fats: long chains.
Saturated free fatty acids and phosphatidylcholine
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These fats trigger the cell death of damaged neurons, which are electrically active cells that send information to the entire nervous tissue

The study, published in the journal Nature on October 6, also showed that when researchers prevented the formation of fatty acids in mice, 75% of neurons survived, while only 10% when fatty acids were allowed to form.
Of neurons survived
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The researchers’ early work showed that brain cells continue to function when shielding astrocytes from attack

"Our research results show that the toxic fatty acids produced by astrocytes play a key role in brain cell death and provide a promising new target for the treatment or even prevention of many neurodegenerative diseases," the study said.
Senior co-author Dr.
Shane Liddelow said
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Lidlow is an assistant professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at New York University’s Langone School of Health.
He added that targeting these fats rather than the cells that produce them may be a safer treatment for neurodegenerative diseases, because astrocytes Plasma cells nourish nerve cells and remove their waste products
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Preventing them from working together may interfere with healthy brain function

Liddelow said that although the reasons for the production of these toxins by astrocytes are unclear, they may have evolved to destroy damaged cells before they harm their neighbors
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He pointed out that although healthy cells are not harmed by toxins, when neurons are damaged, mutated, or infected by prions, they are vulnerable

To investigate, the researchers analyzed molecules released from astrocytes collected from rodents
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They also genetically modified some mice to prevent the normal production of toxic fat and observe whether neuronal death occurs after acute injury

"Our findings provide perhaps the most detailed molecular map of how tissue damage causes brain cell death to date, enabling researchers to better understand the causes of neuronal death in various diseases," said Liddelow, who also Assistant Professor of Langone Ophthalmology at New York University
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Liddelow warns that while these findings are promising, genetic technology used to prevent enzymes that produce toxic fatty acids in mice cannot be used in humans
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Therefore, the researchers' next plan is to explore safe and effective methods to interfere with the release of toxins in the body

Article title

Neurotoxic reactive astrocytes induce cell death via saturated