At last several papers publshed on the role of the BBB in neurodegenerative diseases, including PD.
A protein named ANXAI was found to restore the key cellular features needed to reinstate the integrity of the BBB. In mice, administering
the protein reversed the permeability of the BBB in 24 hours.
See http://www.google.com/support/websea...hgAQOfV_IUFSAE
The research was carried out by Barts and the London School of Medicine.
For those who hav e not followed this story, see
http://blog.oup.com/2009/03/what-cau...nsons-disease/
then scroll down to the BBB article.

Reserve a ticket now for the dance!!!
Ron

Thanks Ron.

I can't get the first link to work. It goes off into google. If you could just paste the search term, we could add the google bit.

The second link works fine and takes us to your well argued comment.

If the BBB is compromised, perhaps, dopamine can cross it. Is there good evidence for this in PwP?

John

Would blocking the blood brain barrier or stopping it change our disease? IF, as scientists say, 80% of our cells are already dead before we show signs, would blocking the blood barrier let our meds through?

diagnosed 1991 too,
Dianna

Hi Johnt,
for th first link, try searching for
"The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a layer of cells, including endiothelial cells,which line the "
this gives the correct link,

http://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/ite...ampaign=Slide2

If the BBB permeability is increased, there is every possibility that dopamine could cross it. We have dopamine in our blood for anotherr purpose, as a hormone to regulate our heart rate. Dopamine is actually a smaller molecule than levodopa, yet can't cross while levodopa can. The reason is the fat solubility of levodopa is higher.

Dianna,
If you blocked the BBB, your Sinemet would not get through and no dopamine would reach it's target. Blocking it would not let anything through, good or bad. I think that the 80% of cells may just be inactivated, not necessasrily dead. I think here is a controversy over this. We have to hoper they are just inactivated.
Ron

Ron,

I ran across some intriguing info on BBB when researching neutrophils:


Reversible demyelination, blood-brain barrier breakdown, and pronounced neutrophil recruitment induced by chronic IL-1 expression in the brain

This sounds promising but too much jargon. I wonder if it fits into your theory or model?

Laura

Thanks Ron. Found this article to support your description of controversy of whether Dopamine neurons are dead or as this research article describes: firing blanks.

http://www.hhmi.org/news/palmiter2.html

Is this the article you were referring to? Also found this article:

http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/in...?article=78162


Dianna

the first article is about cells genetically engineered not to produce dopamine, not dead or damaged cells not producing dopamine. completely different situation imho

on the other hand, CEREGENE thinks neurturin, can rescue brain cells, further results in 2013.
i saw a video where the CEREGENE research was being discussed, one of the panelists was a neuro who was involved in the first phase2 study and he said he saw improvement in some patients.
so
here's a company that is developing a disease modifying treatment with results due in early 2013, it gets me a little excited. not tremendously excited because every phase2 trial involving brain implants never made it to phase3, speculation on the reasons why are phase1 participants are prone to larger placebo affects - risk takers who know they are getting the treatment and there is possible bias by the primary researchers, whereas in phase2, you don't know if you are getting the treatment and the trial is usually done at multiple centers in order to recruit enough patients which would reduce any "bias", and i assume whomever is evaluating the patients doesn't know whom got the treatment and whom got the placebo.

http://www.ceregene.com/

so all researchers aren't assuming all dopamine producing neurons are dead.

so the way i see it, it isn't tunnel vision by researchers or just the lack of money that is holding up a "cure" or big bad drug companies - they are spending billions on a cure for alzheimers, cancer, and other diseases - but the lack of volunteers for studies. now maybe if volunteers were paid more there would be more volunteers so maybe money is a factor.

are you actively involved in this work as i remember that you are working with L ondon hospitals. if so can you outline a roadmap for where this research goes from here ?

Congratulations on recognition of the role of the BBB.

Neil

Sorry Laura, the LINK won't open for me.
Best wishes
Ron

Hi Neil,
The hospital is working on their own projects, and can't take on extra work without more funds. Not only that, but they are paranoid about any details of their research being openly discussed until they are ready to publish. I meet them every 6 weeks in London. I have tried to interest them in the BBB theory,and they ar very complmentary about it, but don't want to spend time discussing anything not relating to their own work.
Ron