University of Southern California study finds liver treatment reduces amyloid-beta in rats

Researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California have discovered that an experimental compound, cinaciguat, can restore liver filtration functions in aged rats. The study, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, demonstrated that treating 24-month-old Fischer rats with the drug for two weeks re-opened microscopic pores, known as fenestrae, in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs).

This restoration of liver function led to a significant reduction in blood amyloid-beta-40 levels, which dropped to levels seen in younger animals. In aging subjects, these pores typically close—a process called pseudocapillarization—preventing the liver from effectively filtering large, lipid-bound molecules from the blood. Because amyloid-beta is closely linked to Alzheimer’s disease, this research explores a peripheral clearance pathway that bypasses the blood-brain barrier.

While the results are significant, researchers noted that this is not yet a confirmed Alzheimer's protection for humans. The study highlights the liver's role as a biological filter that, if functioning optimally, can clear neurotoxic peptides from the bloodstream before they contribute to brain plaque deposition.