Protein offers hope for MS and Alzheimer's disease

[MSUK]

A single protein implicated in inflammatory brain diseases, including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease, could lead to novel treatments and better diagnoses.

Scientists at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) are using a technique called neutron reflectometry to study the translocator protein, which is responsible for transporting molecules across mitochondrial membranes.

The translocator protein is found in cells throughout mammal tissue and is believed to play a number of important roles, including in stress regulation. Its presence in the brain, however, is a sign of inflammation, which can be caused by injury or a number of diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.

"Virtually not there in healthy brains"

“[The translocator protein] is virtually not there in healthy brains, but then suddenly it appears when there’s brain inflammation, which implies it could be quite important,” explained Claire Hatty, a biophysicist who is involved with the ANSTO research for her PhD.... Read More - http://www.msrc.co.uk/index.cfm/fuseact ... ageid/3349

[tedhutchinson]

The translocator protein] is virtually not there in healthy brains, but then suddenly it appears when there’s brain inflammation,

I think most people are aware that vitamin D3 is most effective as an ANTI INFLAMMATORY agent when 25(OH)D is at or above 125nmol/l (50ng/ml) yet most people with MS don't bother to check 25(OH)D even though Cityassays (Birmingham NHS path lab) do postal tests for £25 and a years supply of 5000iu vit d cost just £5 from IHERB.

In the same way it's common knowledge that omega 3 from fish oil resolves inflammation while the omega 6 from vegetable/seed oils (corn/sunflower/soy etc) promote inflammation.
We are all aware our DNA is set to produce the anti inflammtory agent vitamin D3 from dawn to dusk given full body sun exposure and from dusk to dawn our system is set to produce the anti inflammatory agent MELATONIN. But what do we do. We tell people to stay out of the sun, apply sunscreen to prevent vitamin d production and we all use light at night to prevent melatonin secretion. Talk about asking for trouble. Even installing the free software program FLUX is too much trouble for most people.
In order to convert the circulating form of vitamin D, calcidiol, to the active hormone, calcitriol, we need adequate amounts of magnesium present to enable the switch. In order to produce melatonin we also require adequate amounts of magnesium. If you check the magnesium content of the food/water you have consumed today you'll probably find it contains less than the current RDA for magnesium. Most people are almost as magnesium deficient as they are vitamin d or melatonin or omega 3 deficient.

I can't see the point in worrying about the translocator protein which is present when their is brain inflammation when most people can't be bothered to spend the few £ required to correct vitamin d3, omega 3, magnesium and melatonin deficiency states.