New Research Shows Promise in Stopping the Progression of Parkinson’s Disease
A recent study conducted by a joint research team from Cambridge University, Harvard University, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has yielded promising results in the fight against Parkinson’s disease. The research focused on the role of specific enzymes in the progression of the neurodegenerative disease, which affects around 10 million people worldwide.
The study revealed that by deleting a gene associated with a specific enzyme that produces dopamine in Parkinson’s disease patients and inhibiting the activity of the enzyme with a newly developed molecule, the progression of the disease can be halted. Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, leading to symptoms such as severe hand tremors, stiffness, and balance problems.
Experiments conducted on mice showed that the deletion of the gene responsible for producing the enzyme, known as USP30, resulted in a reduction of motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, the rate of removal of damaged mitochondria from neurons increased, and dopamine-producing neurons were protected from further loss.
Furthermore, the research team utilized a specific molecule developed by the British pharmaceutical company Mission Therapeutics to block the action of the enzyme in dopamine-producing neurons. This approach also showed promising results, with a significant reduction in dysfunctional mitochondria and protection of dopamine-producing neurons.
According to lead author Professor David Simon of Harvard University School of Medicine, these findings represent a significant step towards the development of new treatments targeting the enzymes involved in the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The study, titled “Knockout or inhibition of USP30 protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the international journal Nature Communications.
Deleting genes that produce specific enzymes and inhibiting specific enzymes with newly developed molecules can… prevent the development of disease
Entered 2023.11.17 11:10 Views 1,815 Entered 2023.11.17 11:10 Modified 2023.11.17 09:46 Views 1,815
Patients with Parkinson’s disease have severe hand tremors and difficulty maintaining body balance. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]Research results have shown that the progression of Parkinson’s disease can be stopped by deleting the gene associated with a specific enzyme that produces dopamine in Parkinson’s disease patients and inhibiting the activity of the enzyme with a newly developed molecule.
A joint research team including Cambridge University in the UK, Harvard University in the US, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) announced that this was the result of mouse experiments.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in controlling movement and coordination. Around 10 million people worldwide suffer from this disease. Due to the degeneration of neurons and a decrease in dopamine levels, Parkinson’s disease patients experience various symptoms such as tremors, stiffness, and balance problems.
Research results have shown that the progression of Parkinson’s disease can be stopped by eliminating a specific enzyme that plays a major role in the death of cells that produce dopamine in the body of Parkinson’s disease patients and blocking the action of the enzyme with a newly developed molecule.
The research team deleted the gene that produces a specific enzyme (USP30), which plays an important role in the death of cells that produce dopamine, in mice with Parkinson’s disease. As a result, the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease were reduced, the rate of removal of damaged mitochondria from neurons was increased, and dopamine-producing neurons were protected from loss.
The research team also blocked the action of the enzyme with a specific molecule developed by the British pharmaceutical company Mission Therapeutics to block the action of the enzyme in neurons that produce dopamine. The results showed that dysfunctional mitochondria were significantly reduced and dopamine-producing neurons were protected.
“This opens the door to the development of a new treatment that targets enzymes that can slow or stop the progression of Parkinson’s disease,” said David Simon, professor of neurology at Harvard University School of Medicine and lead author of the study. Professor Simon, who is also the director of BIDMC’s Center for Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders, added, “Using both experimental strategies together is much more persuasive than using them alone.”
The University of Dundee and the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK also took part in the study. The results of this study (Knockout or inhibition of USP30 protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease) were published in the international journal Nature Communications.
#treat #Parkinsons #disease…Stopping #progression #disease #inhibiting #activity #enzymes
