Well, I never heard of Galanin before, but apparantly it...
Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:46 pm
... may be a cure
From The Daily Express:
BRITAIN CLOSE TO FINDING A DRUG TO COMBAT MS
"
British scientists have made a “major breakthrough” in understanding how to reduce the severity of multiple sclerosis, a university claimed yesterday.
Tests on mice found the brain chemical galanin can significantly reduce the seriousness of the condition, which attacks the central nervous system.
Experiments with the molecule on human brain tissue suggest it could have the same effect on people.
Although scientists at the University of Bristol said further study was needed, it was hoped a drug could be developed within 10 years, offering hope to some 100,000 MS sufferers in Britain.
Researcher Professor David Wraith said: “The results were really remarkable: rarely do you see such a dramatic effect as this.”
MS is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults and symptoms range from pain and tiredness to spasms, paralysis and memory loss.
Scientists believe the key to the currently incurable condition may lie in galanin, a neuropeptide or small protein-like molecule which influences the brain’s activity.
They found that mice with a large amount of galanin became “completely resistant” to the MS-like disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
But mice that contained no galanin at all developed a more severe form.
They then carried out tests on human brain tissue already affected by MS and found that galanin repaired some of the damage seen in acute sufferers of the condition. Prof Wraith said: “Mice with high levels of galanin just didn’t develop any signs of disease.
“We have a lot more to do to figure out how this works but the results are extremely promising.”
The study was started by Professor David Wynick, as part of his ongoing research into the function of galanin in the relief of pain linked to nerves.
He became interested in galanin after other research suggested it plays a central role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Co-researcher Professor Neil Scolding, who studies the role of stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, said: “The results of this research are very significant and provide new insights into how the disease might be treated.”
The findings will be published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"
☺"ten years"?? pah!☺
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/122 ... combat-MS-
From The Daily Express:
BRITAIN CLOSE TO FINDING A DRUG TO COMBAT MS
"
British scientists have made a “major breakthrough” in understanding how to reduce the severity of multiple sclerosis, a university claimed yesterday.
Tests on mice found the brain chemical galanin can significantly reduce the seriousness of the condition, which attacks the central nervous system.
Experiments with the molecule on human brain tissue suggest it could have the same effect on people.
Although scientists at the University of Bristol said further study was needed, it was hoped a drug could be developed within 10 years, offering hope to some 100,000 MS sufferers in Britain.
Researcher Professor David Wraith said: “The results were really remarkable: rarely do you see such a dramatic effect as this.”
MS is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults and symptoms range from pain and tiredness to spasms, paralysis and memory loss.
Scientists believe the key to the currently incurable condition may lie in galanin, a neuropeptide or small protein-like molecule which influences the brain’s activity.
They found that mice with a large amount of galanin became “completely resistant” to the MS-like disease experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
But mice that contained no galanin at all developed a more severe form.
They then carried out tests on human brain tissue already affected by MS and found that galanin repaired some of the damage seen in acute sufferers of the condition. Prof Wraith said: “Mice with high levels of galanin just didn’t develop any signs of disease.
“We have a lot more to do to figure out how this works but the results are extremely promising.”
The study was started by Professor David Wynick, as part of his ongoing research into the function of galanin in the relief of pain linked to nerves.
He became interested in galanin after other research suggested it plays a central role in Alzheimer’s disease.
Co-researcher Professor Neil Scolding, who studies the role of stem cells in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, said: “The results of this research are very significant and provide new insights into how the disease might be treated.”
The findings will be published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
"
☺"ten years"?? pah!☺
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/122 ... combat-MS-