Transposable elements, aka "Jumping genes" a trigger in brain inflammation

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SusanJ
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Transposable elements, aka "Jumping genes" a trigger in brain inflammation

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Beyond viral infection as a trigger to Alzheimers, we now may also have "jumping genes."
Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy are marked by toxic deposits of a protein called tau. Their research found that tau-induced "jumping genes" -- which can relocate or copy themselves to other locations in the genome -- form double-stranded RNA. This abnormal RNA mimics the inflammatory trigger that is also present in viral infections.

"Transposable elements -- the so-called jumping genes -- are a new area of interest in understanding Alzheimer's disease. Our study provides new insights into how they can drive the disease process in addition to their ability to jump," Ochoa said. "These double-stranded RNAs look like a virus to the immune system even though the jumping genes are a part of our normal genome."
Overview at https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2 ... 193413.htm

Full text at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abq5423
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