Protein might lead to new ALS treatment


Published: Dec. 3, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Print story Email to a friend Font size:WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists have shown, for the first time, injections of a protein found in human cells can delay the onset of symptoms of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine determined such injections also increased the lifespan of mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS.

The scientists said treatments of recombinant heat shock protein 70, known as Hsp70, increased total lifespan by 10 percent -- significantly more than the drug Riluzole, the only ALS treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

But the researchers cautioned that while their findings suggest a new treatment approach for ALS, they are not ready for studies in humans.

"This is another piece in the puzzle of what causes ALS and how to best treat it," said David Gifondorwa the study's lead author. "It's possible that one day a treatment based on this finding could be part of a 'cocktail' for attacking the disease from different fronts."

ALS is a disease that causes death of motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscles.

The study is detailed in the Journal of Neuroscience.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science...reatment/9626/