 |
|
Early environmental exposure may accelerate age-related neurodegeneration
June 28, 2007Exposure to iron during the first weeks of life in combination with exposure later in life to a common herbicide may contribute to the subsequent degeneration of brain cells associated with the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD), according to a new study in mice. The findings also showed that a compound that protects cells in the body from damage from certain forms of oxygen, a kind of antioxidant, could suppress such neural degeneration.
Previous studies indicated that both early exposure to iron and later exposure to the herbicide paraquat independently increase oxidative stress-an environment in which damage from levels of reactive oxygen is more likely-in dopamine-producing regions of the brain, areas that are affected by PD. Julie Andersen, PhD, and her team at the Buck Institute for Age Research found that feeding iron to newborn mice made them more susceptible to paraquat, which increases levels of harmful forms of oxygen and damages dopamine-producing neurons as they grew older. The study appears in the June 27 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.
"The importance of the study is that it points to a possible role of common mechanisms triggered by iron and paraquat as important in PD, and suggests that therapies that block their effects would be worth testing in patients," says Marie-Francoise Chesselet, MD, PhD, of UCLA, who did not participate in the study.
Ten-day-old mice were fed iron for a week. At ages from two months to two years, they were then exposed to paraquat for three weeks. By examining their brains, Andersen and her team found that by the time the mice were a year old, early iron consumption exacerbated damage to brain cells caused by paraquat exposure. The effect was even more pronounced at two years of age, the human equivalent of 60-70 years.
A subset of mice that received the antioxidant at the same time that they were exposed to paraquat exhibited reduced levels of dopamine-producing neuron death, suggesting they were protected from oxidative damage. Aging is the single major risk factor for PD, but the findings from Andersen and her colleagues show that exposure during the neonatal period may play a crucial role in the development of late-onset PD.
Future studies are likely to explore the role of antioxidants in helping to prevent and treat symptoms of PD, says Andersen. "The present findings suggest that antioxidants may be a viable therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as PD."
Society for Neuroscience
Ten-day-old mice were fed iron for a week. At ages from two months to two years, they were then exposed to paraquat for three weeks. By examining their brains, Andersen and her team found that by the time the mice were a year old, early iron consumption exacerbated damage to brain cells caused by paraquat exposure. The effect was even more pronounced at two years of age, the human equivalent of 60-70 years.
A subset of mice that received the antioxidant at the same time that they were exposed to paraquat exhibited reduced levels of dopamine-producing neuron death, suggesting they were protected from oxidative damage. Aging is the single major risk factor for PD, but the findings from Andersen and her colleagues show that exposure during the neonatal period may play a crucial role in the development of late-onset PD.
Future studies are likely to explore the role of antioxidants in helping to prevent and treat symptoms of PD, says Andersen. "The present findings suggest that antioxidants may be a viable therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, such as PD."
Society for Neuroscience
Neurodegeneration News and Current Neurodegeneration Events RSSStudy finds B-vitamin deficiency may cause vascular cognitive impairment
A deficiency of B-vitamins may cause vascular cognitive impairment, according to a new study. Researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University used an experimental model to examine the metabolic, cognitive, and microvascular effects of dietary B-vitamin deficiency.
MIT zeroes in on Alzheimer's structures
MIT engineers report a new approach to identifying protein structures key to Alzheimer's disease, an important step toward the development of new drugs that could prevent such structures from forming.
Lou Gehrig's protein found throughout brain, suggesting effects beyond motor neurons
Two years ago researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that misfolded proteins called TDP-43 accumulated in the motor areas of the brains of patients with amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease.
Genetics of ALS progression
An upcoming paper from Drs. Hidenori Ichijo and Hideki Nishitoh (The University of Tokyo) and colleagues lends new and valuable insight into the genetics of ALS.
'Intrabody' can mop up mutant protein in Huntington's disease model
Scientists have created a tool for mopping up the clumps of mutant protein that drive neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease. Emory University researchers engineered a virus to make an intracellular antibody or "intrabody" against huntingtin, the protein whose mutant forms poison the brain cells of people with Huntington's.
RNA Toxicity Contributes to Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Pennsylvania Scientists Say
Expanding on prior research performed at the University of Pennsylvania, Penn biologists have determined that faulty RNA, the blueprint that creates mutated, toxic proteins, contributes to a family of neurodegenerative disorders in humans.
Researchers uncover mechanism of action of antibiotic able to reduce neuronal cell death in brain
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions, which eventually could lead to therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, epilepsy, stroke, dementia and malignant gliomas.
'Rotten eggs' in the blood
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is a gas most commonly associated with the smell of stink bombs, sewage and rotten eggs, but a team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England and King's College London have now identified a role for this gas in regulating blood pressure, according to research published today in the leading science journal "Circulation".
Investigators unveil new drug discovery tool for Alzheimer's disease
An article published in the April issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease presents a detailed characterization of a new drug discovery tool for Alzheimer's disease.
Molecular basis for neurodegeneration in Ataxia telangiectasia
An upcoming paper from Dr. David Wassarman (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health) in the May 1 issue of G&D lends new insight into the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in Ataxia telangiectasia.
More Neurodegeneration News Articles
 | Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration: Volume 10 (Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration, 10) The book contains original articles and reviews presented at the 6th International Winter Conference on Neurodegeneration, held from November 20–23, 1997 in Kitzbühel/Austria. The aim of this conference was to present and discuss recent data on the interface between neuroimmunology and neurodegeneration, in particular susceptibility to autoimmune and neurodegenerative processes,... |
 | Neurodegeneration and Prion Disease This volume provides an in-depth overview from world experts on prion disease. These fatal diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, chronic wasting disease in deer, scrapie of sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow’s disease) of cattle and related diseases. Understanding what causes neuronal death in these diseases is essential to both preventing and curing them. The most... |
 | Cannabinoids as Therapeutics (Milestones in Drug Therapy) In recent years, cannabis research has concentrated on the potential of cannabinoids as therapeutic substances, particularly in serious chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis. Most volumes published on cannabinoids so far concentrate on the biological activity, biochemistry and pharmacology, whereas this volume concentrates on the diseases, the physiological effects and therapeutic use of... |
 | The Proteasome in Neurodegeneration There is increasing evidence that links together various common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Finding common themes in the pathophysiology of such disorders is increasingly important. This text addresses such a common theme—the proteasome. Since the discovery of the proteasome some 20 years ago, significant strides have been made... |
 | Neuroacanthocytosis Syndromes II This book contains the latest research regarding the neurodegenerative conditions known as neuroacanthocytosis. Recent advances have identified the range of mutations in the causative genes, shedding light on potential phenotype-genotype correlations. In vitro studies have identified potential protein interactions, which have important implications for pathophysiology, and work on erythrocyte... |
 | Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis (Topics in Neuroscience) In multiple sclerosis (MS), conventional magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) has proved to be a valuable tool to increase diagnostic confidence and for monitoring the efficacy of experimental treatment. However, cMRI has limited specificity and accuracy of cMRI to the most disabling aspects of the MS pathology, known to occur in and outside macroscopic lesions. Modern quantitative MR techniques... |
 | Advances in Dementia Research Dementia is a major health problem that becomes increasingly common with advancing age. Despite recent progress in neurobiology and molecular genetics, the aetiology and pathogenesis of most dementia disorders are still poorly understood, and early exact diagnosis as a prerequisite of effective treatment needs to be improved. The present volume includes the contributions of renowned experts in... |
 | New Perspectives on Brain Cell Damage, Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotective Strategies 2007 by Associate Editor: Maria Esther Jimenez-Capdeville From the Preface For the last four decades, the study of the functioning and pathological alterations of the Nervous System has been intensified in search for therapeutic alternatives against neurodegenerative disorders in humans. Since their first descriptions in the 19th and 20th centuries, sufficient clinical and experimental findings contributed to describe the origin of some of the most... |
| Neuroprotection And Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease (Round Table Series) by Y. Mizuno | |
| Neurodegeneration and Prion Disease by David R. (EDT) Brown |
| © 2008 BrightSurf.com |