RESEARCH: 'Rusty' nerve endings may cause diseases

[Guest guest]

Multiple System Atrophy and Lewy Body Dementia are also

" synucleinopathies " .

Regards,

Pam

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_104173.html

'Rusty' nerve endings may cause diseases

Diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's may be caused when nerve

endings in the brain turn " rusty " , according to new research.

Scientists found evidence that oxidative damage to the connection points of

nerve cells is linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

Oxidation occurs when atoms are stripped of electrons due to a chemical

reaction. It causes iron to rust and damages the components of living cells.

US researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, discovered

that in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients, a nerve protein called

alpha-synuclein suffered oxidative damage.

Alpha-synuclein is found at the synapses of nerve cells, the points where

wiring in the brain connects.

Earlier work had shown that mutations in the alpha-synuclein gene caused the

inherited form of Parkinson's disease. The protein was also known to be a

major component of Lewy bodies, the fibrous lesions characteristic of

Parkinson's.

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are

collectively called synucleinopathies. Their symptoms are normally caused by

the deficiency of a neurotransmitter - a chemical that transmits messages

across synapses from one nerve cell to another.

When the neurons that produce these chemicals die or become impaired, it can

cause tremors or dementia.

The Pennsylvania scientists found that alpha-synucleins damaged by oxidation

were widespread in Lewy bodies.

Dr Virginia Lee, co-director of the Centre for Neurodegenerative Disease

Research at the University of Pennsylvania, said: " This is a major foothold

in beginning to understand how oxidative stress plays a role in causing

Parkinson's and other synucleinopathies.

" Our studies provide conclusive evidence of oxidative damage in

alpha-synuclein, and that such stress may be a primary event leading to the

onset and progression of neurodegenerative synucleinopathies, particularly

Parkinson's. "

The researchers, who reported their findings in the journal Science, said

the work may lead to developing therapies to slow or reverse progression of

the diseases by halting or reducing oxidative damage.

Last updated: 01:52 Friday 3rd November 2000