Human neurons in mouse brains are more susceptible to Alzheimer's pathology
The study of the development of Alzheimer's disease on a molecular level presents unique challenges, as neurons behave differently in vivo vs. in vitro. Using mice as models presents useful insights, but mouse models never fully develop the disease, despite the fact that their brains and neurons share many similarities with those of humans. A new, humanized model A team of researchers has now transplanted human neurons into mouse brains which mimick some of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease, including the presence of amyloid plaques. They found that, compared to mouse neurons, human neurons were much more sensitive to amyloid plaque pathology. This novel model allows for a better characterization of the disease processes that actually take place in the brain of human patients. Much of the work was performed in close cooperation with prof. Pierre Vanderhaeghen (ULB-WELBIO, VIB-KULeuven), whose lab previously pioneered the technology to differentiate human pluripote...