Promising molecule could stop or slow Parkinson’s
A promising molecule has offered hope for a new treatment that could stop or slow Parkinson’s, something no treatment can currently do.
Researchers from the University of Helsinki found that molecule BT13 has the potential to both boost levels of dopamine, the chemical that is lost in Parkinson’s, as well as protect the dopamine-producing brain cells from dying.
The results from the study, co-funded by Parkinson’s UK and published online today in the journal Movement Disorders, showed an increase in dopamine levels in the brains of mice following the injection of the molecule. BT13 also activated a specific receptor in the mouse brains to protect the cells.
While current treatments mask the symptoms, there is nothing that can slow down its progression or prevent more brain cells from being lost, and as dopamine levels continue to fall, symptoms get worse and new symptoms can appear.
Researchers are now working on improving the properties of BT13 to make it more effective as a potential treatment which, if successful, could benefit the 145,000 people living with Parkinson’s in the UK.
However, the GDNF protein requires complex surgery to deliver the treatment to the brain because it’s a large molecule that cannot cross the blood-brain barrier - a protective barrier that prevents some drugs from getting into the brain.
BT13, a smaller molecule, is able to cross the blood-brain barrier - and therefore could be more easily administered as a treatment, if shown to be beneficial in further clinical trials.
Professor David Dexter, Deputy Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK, said:
One of the biggest challenges for Parkinson’s research is how to get drugs past the blood-brain barrier, so the exciting discovery of BT13 has opened up a new avenue for research to explore, and the molecule holds great promise as a way to slow or stop Parkinson’s. More research is needed to turn BT13 into a treatment to be tested in clinical trials, to see if it really could transform the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.”People with Parkinson’s desperately need a new treatment that can stop the condition in its tracks, instead of just masking the symptoms.
Dr. Yulia Sidorova, lead researcher on the study, said:
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Journal reference:
Mahato, A.K., et al. (2019) Glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor receptor Rearranged during transfection agonist supports dopamine neurons in Vitro and enhances dopamine release In Vivo. Movement Disorders. doi.org/10.1002/mds.27943.