Cell子刊：阿尔茨海默病的可成药新靶点——oxMIF

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the role of external risk factors, such as obesity and viral infections, in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease, and highlights the potential therapeutic target of oxidized macrophage migration inhibitory factor (oxMIF) in this context [1][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - A study published by researchers from Düsseldorf University identifies oxMIF as a drug target for Alzheimer's disease, linking external risk factors to tau pathology [2][3]. - The research indicates that the replication of HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus type 1) involves oxMIF, and that the compound PAV-174 can inhibit oxMIF, potentially blocking this process [8]. - The study found that oxMIF is abundant in the brains of sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients, suggesting its role as a molecular interface between external stressors and Alzheimer's pathology [8]. Group 2: Mechanisms and Implications - The interaction between viruses and host cell proteins can disrupt cellular protein homeostasis, increasing the risk of protein misfolding diseases [5]. - The identification of host proteins repurposed by viruses allows for the exploration of fundamental cellular activities in sporadic cell death events without relying on the viruses themselves [6]. - PAV-174 has shown effectiveness in reducing tau protein phosphorylation and aggregation in both in vitro and in vivo settings, independent of viral infection [6][8].