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Recently the researchers issued a report that the study found cells
which should provide nutrients to support other nerve cells, secreted toxins instead and leaded to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).
The two reports published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, may bring lights to the development of new therapies. ALS lead to paralyze gradually, dead at last.
Two groups of researchers have found that when astrocytes, a nerve cells, carrying a SOD1 gene mutation, it will produce oxins. Astrocytes play a role on supporting nerve neurons nutrients, and the SOD1 gene has been identified that it is related with the ALS for a long time.
Dr. Serge Przedborski with his team, Columbia University, New York, made mouse motor neuron cells which carried the variation human SOD1 gene. However, these variation cells when cultivated in te laboratory, did not cause the damage typically seen in ALS cases.
Then researchers made astrocytes which carried the variation human SOD1 gene.
They found when astrocytess SOD1 gene mutation, one of the nourishing proteins apparently become a toxin. When they cultivated cells carrying variation SOD1 gene, the nearby mouse motor neuron cells were killed.
Astrocytes in the past was considered only a bystander. But we know from these results that they are not only as bystander, they are the main actors. Dr. Serge Przedborski said.
If the researchers are able to identify that the particular protein, Its possible to develope drugs for treat ALS.
Researchers pointed out that the use of embryonic stem cells are a good way to test potential therapies. And both studies use the mouse embryonic stem cells to create cells which can simulated disease. Studies have shown that embryonic stem cells may be the key for basic medical research. These created cells can be used in such a terminal ALS drug test.
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