Articles tagged with Motor Neurons
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Scientists identify the valosin-containing protein (VCP) gene linked to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disease. Further study may lead to novel treatments by transforming the pathological process in ALS patients.
Researchers at Brandeis University developed a chemical rope to stabilize the SOD1 protein, which causes familial ALS. The approach potentially solves the instability problem, even at high temperatures.
Experts in motor neuron diseases challenge a recent study's claim that repetitive head trauma causes ALS, citing lack of clinical and pathological evidence. The editorial aims to dispel doubts on Lou Gehrig's ALS diagnosis.
Researchers identified ways to preserve motor neuron cells in ALS and enhance CD8+ T cell therapy for leukemia. Expanding immune suppressors via TNFRSF25 could prevent allergic lung inflammation in asthma. These findings may pave the way for new therapeutic approaches for these diseases.
A team of researchers identified a way to preserve nerve cells in motor neuron disease by preventing symptom onset, weight loss, and paralysis. This discovery provides a new avenue for the development of therapeutics for ALS and other motor neuron diseases.
Scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center have discovered a single type of gene that acts as a master organizer of motor neurons in the spinal cord. The finding, published in Neuron, could lead to new treatments for diseases such as Lou Gehrig's disease and spinal cord injury.
Scientists have devised a method to coax mouse embryonic stem cells into forming highly specific motor neuron subtypes. This achievement may prove useful for future therapies for motor neuron diseases. The study provides new insight into motor neuron differentiation and demonstrates the ability to generate defined motor neuron subtypes.
Researchers at Boston University and VA have discovered a new disease, CTEM, that mimics ALS in athletes with repeated head trauma. The disease is characterized by abnormal tau protein deposits and TDP-43 pathology, which are also found in sporadic ALS cases.
A new £800,000 research programme aims to unlock the secrets of motor neuron disease by studying human motor neurons and support cells from donors. The programme will investigate whether support cells are injurious or protective to motor neurons, and may lead to promising new treatment strategies.
A genetic link has been discovered between sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease. The study found that protein FUS forms characteristic inclusions in spinal motor neurons in most ALS cases, suggesting a common pathogenic pathway for motor neuron degeneration.
Researchers used gene therapy to deliver a portion of DNA that makes the SMN protein into newborn mice, resulting in improved muscle coordination and longer survival. The treatment corrected motor function, restored nerve signals, and improved overall health in mice with spinal muscular atrophy.
A team of researchers led by Salk Institute scientist Sam Pfaff aims to develop a novel stem-cell derived therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The project focuses on growing clinical-grade astrocyte precursor cells and testing their efficacy and safety.
Scientists have discovered a compound that dramatically slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice by extending their lifespan by 25 percent and reducing muscle wasting. The enzyme APC has been shown to protect neurons from cell death caused by SOD1 mutations, which are linked to most sporadic cases of ALS.
Researchers have developed a new mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that closely replicates human symptoms, including progressive paralysis and muscle loss. The genetically engineered mice also exhibit damage to motor neurons and protein clumps, similar to human ALS pathology.
Premature aging of the immune system has been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to research. Studies found that patients with ALS have reduced CD4+ T cells and thymic malfunction, contributing to disease progression.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine discovered that the antioxidant protein Prdx1 controls the activity of GDE2, a critical protein for spinal cord neuron development. The study found that Prdx1 breaks a chemical bond between amino acids in GDE2, activating it to promote motor neuron differentiation.
A new study reveals that impaired axonal transport in neurons is a key factor in the development of prion diseases. The research shows that clinical symptoms correlate with reduced axonal transport in specific brain centers, providing new insights into the disease.
The model system will help understand causes of myelin-related conditions, such as diabetic neuropathy and multiple sclerosis. Researchers plan to use the new model to explore origins of diabetic neuropathy and test new drug therapies.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine found that retinoic acid and Neurogenin2 cooperate to activate chromatin and determine nerve progenitor cells become motor neurons. This discovery may lead to generating motor neurons from different stem cells and developing tools for drug screening.
Dr. Piera Pasinelli has received a $300,000 grant from the Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation to investigate critical aspects of drug delivery in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The research aims to overcome the limitations of current treatments by finding ways to inactivate multi-drug resistance transporters.
According to evolutionary biologist Alan Walker, human fine motor control limits strength compared to chimps. Humans use fewer muscle fibers for tasks, while chimps use more due to less motor neuron control. This allows humans to conserve energy and perform delicate tasks, but may also limit their physical endurance.
Two NYU School of Medicine researchers, Iannis Aifantis and Jeremy S. Dasen, have been recognized as Early Career Scientists by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for their groundbreaking research in cancer biology and neuroscience. They will receive a six-year appointment and funding to further explore their areas of research.
The protein LMO4 helps maintain a critical balance between two types of neurons, preventing motor dysfunction in mammals. Inhibitory neurons promote calm activity, while excitatory neurons encourage activity. LMO4 promotes inhibitory neurons by forming a complex that binds to DNA and blocks the development of excitatory neurons.
Scientists at UCLA have successfully differentiated human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into electrically active motor neurons, similar in function and efficiency to those derived from human embryonic stem cells. This discovery may open the door for new treatments for neurological disorders using patient-specific cells.
Researchers have developed a human cell-derived model of ALS, allowing for the study of the disease's progression and potential therapeutics. The model, derived from motor neurons generated from human embryonic stem cells, exhibits characteristics typical of the disease.
Two studies identified a novel biomarker for metastatic bladder cancer and discovered stem cell factor's role in airway remodeling in asthma. Additionally, researchers found that Staphlococcus aureus beta-toxin causes lung injury in pneumonia, while rosiglitazone may reduce the severity of scleroderma.
A new area of the cerebral cortex has evolved to enable complex movements, such as picking up small objects and using tools, in humans and higher primates. This new area is home to cortico-motoneuronal cells that directly control spinal cord motor neurons, bypassing limitations imposed by spinal cord circuitry.
Scientists have successfully recreated the hallmarks of a genetic disorder in a lab dish using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, which can now be used to study and develop new therapies for genetic diseases. The disease-specific cells retain the same traits as those affected in patients with spinal muscular atrophy, allow...
Two studies using hES cell-derived motor neurons demonstrate that mutant SOD1-expressing astrocytes contribute to ALS degeneration through an inflammatory response and the production of reactive oxygen species. Pharmacological blockade of ROS production rescues motor neurons, identifying a potential therapeutic target for ALS.
Researchers have established a novel human stem cell-based model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), confirming that dysfunctional astrocytes can kill off healthy motor neurons. Treating the cultured cells with apocynin, an anti-oxidant, staved off motor neuron death caused by malfunctioning astrocytes.
Scientists have identified a gene in mice that plays a central role in the development of corticospinal neurons, which degenerate in patients with ALS. The discovery provides insight into how stem cells in the brain become specific types of neurons.
In a breakthrough for ALS research, scientists successfully transplanted stem cell-like cells into rat models of the disease, slowing neuron loss and extending life. The treatment targets the cervical spinal cord, where motor neurons are most vulnerable to damage.
V3 neurons play a vital role in maintaining balance between both sides of the body, ensuring robust stepping rhythms. The discovery provides an important milestone in understanding neural circuitry that coordinates walking movements.
Researchers have successfully used stem cell transplantation to improve the symptoms of a mouse model with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder that causes muscle weakness and degeneration. The treatment increased the survival and function of motor neurons, leading to improved muscular function and lifespan in treated mice.
Researchers have found that farnesylated progerin, not just its non-farnesylated form, can cause symptoms of disease in individuals with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). Meanwhile, a new study suggests that neural stem cell transplantation may offer hope for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) by improving the survival a...
Researchers have successfully differentiated pluripotent stem cells from a patient with ALS into motor neurons and glia featuring an ALS genotype, offering new avenues for drug discovery and understanding the disease process.
A Brandeis study finds that mutated protein superoxide dismutase leads to toxic levels of the protein in motor neurons, causing cell death in ALS patients. The research aims to develop drugs targeting key proteins to prevent aggregation and treat the disease.
Transplanting human umbilical cord blood cells into mouse models with ALS delayed disease symptom progression and increased lifespan. The moderate-strength dose of HUCB cells proved most effective in providing neuroprotection for motor neurons.
Researchers discovered misfolded proteins TDP-43 accumulate throughout the brain of ALS patients, indicating broader neurological effects. The findings suggest new therapies for ALS should target molecular targets beyond just motor neurons.
Researchers found that a delicate balance of promotion and inhibition is required to generate diverse types of neurons. By studying motor neuron development in mice, they identified key regulatory factors and discovered a repressor function that blocks alternative pathways.
Researchers at Montreal Neurological Institute discovered a critical gene, Runx1, that regulates motor neuron development and maintenance. This finding holds promise for understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS.
ALS researchers have identified a molecular pathway where mutated SOD1 leads to accumulation of malformed proteins in motor neurons, causing ER stress and cell death. Inactivating key factors in this pathway may mitigate neurodegeneration and prolong survival in mouse models.
Researchers at UCSF have made a groundbreaking discovery on how neurons coordinate to generate movement. Individual neurons do not fire independently across the entire duration of a motor function as previously thought but instead coordinate their activity with other neurons. The study revealed that each neuron encodes different aspec...
During embryonic development, ephrin/Eph signaling helps regulate the growth of sensory and motor neurons. When this cross-talk is interrupted, motor neurons can mistakenly join sensory pathways, leading to a 'wiring disaster.' Researchers hope to use these findings to develop new treatments for spinal cord injuries
A team of Canadian and French researchers has identified the TDP-43 gene as a significant cause of ALS (sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neuromuscular disorder affecting motor neurons. The study, published in Nature Genetics, found that up to five percent of ALS patients have genetic mutations in this gene.
A team of University of Michigan scientists has identified a possible link between genetic mutations and toxic substance exposure in the development of motor neuron disease. The study found that abnormal protein changes caused by organophosphate exposure may contribute to the disease, offering new leads for diagnosis and treatment.
Researchers have identified a mutation in the TDP-43 gene linked to inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and suggest it may also play a role in common dementia. The study's findings could provide new insights into understanding ALS and developing treatments.
Researchers found that muscle cells play a vital role in communicating with neurons, and when this communication is disrupted, it can lead to nerve problems. The study provides new insights into the development of neuromuscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy and ALS.
In a breakthrough study, targeting astrocytes in mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) doubles the lifespan of affected animals. This finding suggests that astrocytes, support cells essential for neuronal function, may be viable targets to slow disease progression and extend life expectancy.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified a key signal guiding motor neuron navigation, Magellan, which helps them reach their target destinations. The mutation affects the structure of growing neurons, causing them to lose direction and form abnormal 'kinks' or coils.
A randomized phase III trial found that minocycline accelerates the deterioration of ALS patients, contradicting previous positive results in animal models. The study suggests reassessing trials of minocycline in other neurological conditions.
A team of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has shown that stem cells engineered to secrete a key growth factor can protect motor neurons characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but not restore muscle connections. The study demonstrates promise for cell-based therapies in diseases with few treatment options.
A team of surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine has found that using motor nerves to repair damaged muscles yields better results than traditional sensory nerve grafts. The study used a novel approach, where intact motor nerves were used as grafts in rat models, resulting in significant improvements in muscle function.
Researchers discovered that damaged motor neurons in ALS send incorrect signals, triggering an immune cell response that accelerates their own death. This finding offers a new approach for therapies targeting the motor neurons themselves.
Researchers found that astrocytes, carrying a mutated gene, induce motor neuron death in ALS patients. The study suggests that targeting these cells may lead to effective therapies and earlier diagnoses. This discovery could involve transplanting embryonic stem cells to replace damaged neurons.
Researchers have found that motor protein myosin X travels along the actin filament of a neuron's backbone, delivering the DCC receptor to its periphery where it interacts with netrin-1. This process enables axons to grow in the right direction and form synapses.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have discovered that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) enhances the growth of corticospinal motor neuron axons, a critical population affected by ALS. IGF-1 stimulation increases axon outgrowth speed and extent, paving the way for potential treatments.
A team of researchers has produced cyclopeptides that imitate the HNK-1 carbohydrate from human natural killer cells, stimulating axon growth in motor neuron cell cultures. These glycomimetics could be a promising starting point for developing treatments for spinal cord injuries.
Researchers develop a novel approach to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by delivering an antisense oligonucleotide drug directly to the brain and spinal cord. The treatment slows disease progression by silencing mutant proteins that cause the disease, offering new hope for patients.
The discovery of agile molecular motors could lead to better ways to treat motor neuron diseases, which destroy motor neurons and control voluntary muscles. The proteins, dynein and dynactin, are able to move back and forth along a microtubule, providing the necessary maneuvering ability for effective long distance transport.