Protein Shields Mice from Parkinson's

If results of a new study conducted in mice can be applied to people, Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions may have met their match.Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found boosting levels of the naturally occurring protein Nrf-2 completely shields mice from a chemical known to induce Parkinson's disease. The protein is made by brain cells called astrocytes, which researchers believe help support neurons, the cells that actually carry nerve signals. When neurons die, they cannot be replaced, which leads to the devastating effects of neurological conditions."Neurons have always gotten the Academy Awards, but astrocyte dysfunction is becoming a central theme in neurodegenerative disease," study author Jeffrey Johnson was quoted as saying. "If we can figure out how to fix a sick astrocyte, or even prevent it from getting sick, which could offer profound protection against almost all neurodegenerative diseases."In this study, mice who were genetically engineering to have extra Nrf-2 genes produced about twice the normal level of Nrf-2. When researchers injected them with a chemical called MPTP, which is known to kill neurons and cause Parkinson's, the extra Nrf-2 was 100 percent effective in warding off the chemical.Johnson says he and his colleagues expected to see some reduction in cell death due to the treatment, but were surprised at the totality of the results. "This complete abolition of toxicity was far greater than we expected. It was striking."Tests in humans are still at least a couple of years away, but the researchers are already looking for candidate drugs that could boost Nrf-2 production in human astrocytes. If suitable drugs are found, it could mean effective treatments not only for Parkinson's disease, but also Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and other conditions involving the brain.