The Role of Astrocyte-Secreted Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 2 (IGFBP2) in the Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Identifying new targets to slow or halt the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an urgent need. Our approach to this is to ask if non-neuronal cells in the brain, called astrocytes, contribute to AD progression by negatively impacting the neurons they interact with. We identified that in AD, astrocytes upregulate the production of a protein called IGFBP2. This protein has also been shown to be increased in patients with AD, as well as other brain disorders, linking it to brain pathology. The role of IGFBP2 is to inhibit growth factor signaling, suggesting its upregulation will have a negative impact on cells in the brain, including neurons. In this project, we ask if blocking the actions of IGFBP2 is beneficial in AD, examining this in patient samples and mouse models. The outcomes of these experiments will determine if IGFBP2, a candidate biomarker for cognitive decline and AD, contributes to AD pathogenesis.