Date:
December 17, 2014
Source:
Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki)
Summary:
Researchers plan to develop orally administrable small molecules that
act similarly to neurotrophic factor GDNF. "GDNF has earlier been
recognized as a possible eliminator of the cause of Parkinson's disease.
However, there are problems with the use of GDNF. It diffuses poorly,
is expensive and does not penetrate blood-brain barrier. So we aim at
molecules that could work better in this to support suffering neurons
in the brains of Parkinson's disease patiens," says one expert.
Researchers in the University of Helsinki plan to develop orally administrable small molecules that
act similarly to neurotrophic factor GDNF
.Parkinson's UK has granted Professor Mart Saarma and postdoctoral researchers
Yulia Sidorova and Merja Voutilainen from the Institute of Biotechnology,
Finland, a grant of £35,000 over 8 months to develop orally administrable small
molecules that act similarly to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).
"GDNF has earlier been recognized as a possible eliminator of the cause of
Parkinson's disease. However, there are problems with the use of GDNF. It
diffuses poorly, is expensive and does not penetrate blood-brain barrier. So we
aim at molecules that could work better in this to support suffering neurons in
the brains of Parkinson's disease patiens," says Professor Mart Saarma.
The group has already identified several candidate molecules which activate
GDNF receptors in immortalized cells and shown that one of them promoted
survival of dopamineric neurons in vitro.
"We also have another candidate compound that has not yet been tested on
dopaminergic neurons. Its ability was better that that of GDNF family member
artemin to stimulate neurite outgrowth from sensory neurons. We would like to
test the activity of the the latter molecule towards survival of dopaminergic
neurons and test both GDNF mimetics in animal model of PD."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Helsingin yliopisto
(University of Helsinki). Note: Materials may be edited for content and
length.
Date:
December 17, 2014
Source:
Helsingin yliopisto (University of Helsinki)
Summary:
Researchers plan to develop orally administrable small molecules that
act similarly to neurotrophic factor GDNF. "GDNF has earlier been
recognized as a possible eliminator of the cause of Parkinson's disease.
However, there are problems with the use of GDNF. It diffuses poorly,
is expensive and does not penetrate blood-brain barrier. So we aim at
molecules that could work better in this to support suffering neurons
in the brains of Parkinson's disease patiens," says one expert.
Researchers in the University of Helsinki plan to develop orally administrable small molecules that
act similarly to neurotrophic factor GDNF
.Parkinson's UK has granted Professor Mart Saarma and postdoctoral researchers
Yulia Sidorova and Merja Voutilainen from the Institute of Biotechnology,
Finland, a grant of £35,000 over 8 months to develop orally administrable small
molecules that act similarly to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).
"GDNF has earlier been recognized as a possible eliminator of the cause of
Parkinson's disease. However, there are problems with the use of GDNF. It
diffuses poorly, is expensive and does not penetrate blood-brain barrier. So we
aim at molecules that could work better in this to support suffering neurons in
the brains of Parkinson's disease patiens," says Professor Mart Saarma.
The group has already identified several candidate molecules which activate
GDNF receptors in immortalized cells and shown that one of them promoted
survival of dopamineric neurons in vitro.
"We also have another candidate compound that has not yet been tested on
dopaminergic neurons. Its ability was better that that of GDNF family member
artemin to stimulate neurite outgrowth from sensory neurons. We would like to
test the activity of the the latter molecule towards survival of dopaminergic
neurons and test both GDNF mimetics in animal model of PD."
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by Helsingin yliopisto
(University of Helsinki). Note: Materials may be edited for content and
length.
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