A research team at UC-San Diego anounced yesterday that they have invented a shortcut for turning skin cells into brain cells, a process that holds promise in the treating of Parkinson's. The team created neurons from skin cells by blocking production of a single protein. The method bypasses existing techniques that make neurons from stem cells derived from skin cells, a complicated process.
The researchers found that the protein, called PTB, stops the activity of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells. When PTB is blocked, the neuronal genes are activated and functional neurons can be produced. Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by defects in certain neurons, In Parkinson's the neurons stop producing dopamine.. Transplantations of fresh neurons could cure the disease, or at least relieve symptoms for many years.
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ronn
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It is good news.for all of us. How long more time medicine will take to come in market. . Anyway, I am going 2 see my consultant at hospital on Wednesday,hopfully He knows the answer?
First we need to find a marker that tells us that we have PD before the symptoms appear, because by then 80% of the brain cells involved have already died. Then we need a delivery system to get these brain cells where they're supposed to go. Yes, now is the time and I am the cure!
I too really hope this is t h e o n e !!! Only being new to PD we do not really know what is in store for us yet but if this is at the fore front of research then my hubby would be in on the trials if possible. Keeping fingers crossed for everyone!!!
Hikoi, I do not pretend to have the slightest understanding of the processes described in either claim, but it appears to me that the Aukland team reports having reduced the number of genes used for the process of reprograming from skin cells to neural precursor cells from 5 to just two. The UCSan Diego team claims having developed a "shortcut" involving the use of a single protein which, when blocked, allows the production of functional neurons.
The meaning of all the above escapes me. The whole thing reminds me of a story told about researchers at the University of XXXXXX. They claimed to have created a new animal species by fertilizing the egg of a female crocodile with the sperm of a male abolone. The result was a hybrid creature which they called an "Aba-dile". They admitted having also tried the reverse, using an ablone egg and crocodile sperm, but all they ever got was a "Crock-a-boloney".
Interesting to read your post of 6 years ago >>>>>> everything is coming more
"realistic" >>> approximately on the same time Japanese and Americans are launching trials, to use the skin cells effectively on humans, this year.
I know a person in Germany who can go to the trial (in November in Amerika) : that means, certainly minimal waiting a year to hear about results (but perhaps, I will know something then because, he's becoming a good friend of me)
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