Transthyretin (TTR)

functions as an anti-acute phase response protein in the blood,

and is also called prealbumin

because blood levels decrease due to inflammation, pregnancy, tumors, and malnutrition.

The nutrition support team (NST) has become one of the important proteins

used as an indicator for shortening the length of hospital stay.

 

 It also acts as a carrier of vitamin A

through thyroxine (T4) and retinol binding protein (RBP), and

is called transthyretin because of its function.

 

It is known that

the concentration of transthyretin in the cerebrospinal fluid gradually increases with aging,

but it is significantly decreased in patients with Alzheimer’s disease compared to normal controls.

There is a report that shows a negative correlation

between transthyretin concentration

and the degree of senile plaques in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients,

and a report that transthyretin suppresses aggregation of Aβ fibrils

in Alzheimer’s disease model mice.

 

In addition,

continuous administration of omega-3 fatty acids to mice with memory impairment

induced the expression of transthyretin mainly in the hippocampus and

improved memory impairment.

It has been clarified one after another that transthyretin has a protective effect on neuronal tissue.