Parkinson's disease: Protein blockade destroys the mass.

pte20181115001 Medical / Health, Research / Technology

Parkinson's disease: Protein blockade destroys the mass.

Experiments using the human brain-USP13 molecule studied have been successfully performed in mice.

Quivering hands: hope for a new cure (Photo: pixelio.de, R. B.)

The researchers at the Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) http://gumc.georgetown.edu not only dissolve a lump of Parkinson's disease-specific protein alpha-synuclein in the brain, but also deteriorate. The rat and human brain studies show the following results: One reason for this so-called Lewy body is that the USP13 molecule removed all the markers of alpha-synuclein that characterize this protein for destruction.

Ubiquitin as a key

The results published in "Human Molecular Genetics" show that Blocking USP13 in Parkinson's mouse model not only removes the Lewy body but also prevents reformation. The label that removed USP13 is called ubiquitin. It displays protein alpha-synuclein for degradation.

According to research director Xiaoguang Liu, the study presents new evidence that USP13 can be a therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease and other related disorders. There are three types of motor impairment associated with the accumulation of alpha-synuclein: Parkinson's disease, levitra dementia, multiple dystonia.

USP13 disabled

At the beginning of the study, the team studied the human brain offered. This included 11 brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and a control group of 9 healthy individuals. The autopsy was performed between 4 and 12 hours after death. It has been shown that USP13 levels are significantly elevated in the midbrain of patients with Parkinson's disease.

In the next step, the Parkinson's disease mouse model showed that inactivation of the USP13 gene could improve ubiquitination of alpha-synuclein and improve its degradation. In addition, inactivation of USP13 blocked neuronal cell death induced by alpha-cinnamin. Explains Charbel Moussa, senior researcher. Animals have improved athletic performance. Increased levels of protein and decreased α-synuclein levels. The effect of the protein kinase inhibitor nilotinib has also been improved. This drug has been approved in the United States for the treatment of certain forms of blood cancer.

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