Seville and Stockholm Experts
demonstrate the role of a
enzyme to stop
brain swelling
Professors at the University of Seville and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, José Luis Venero and Bertrand Joseph, have published a recent study neurodegenerative diseases in the prestigious American journal Nature. The research focuses on the process of brain inflammation, which is closely related to the development of such diseases mainly in adults. The article, 'Caspase signaling controls microglial activation and neurotoxicity', decodes and provides some of the keys involved in the process of brain inflammation, "a mechanism closely related to neurodegeneration and thus with the emergence of diseases such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, demonstrating the role of enzymes (caspases) to stop the process of brain inflammation, "according to Andalucía Innova.
" There are sharply contrasting evidence in the literature scientifically demonstrate the importance of brain inflammation in these diseases. These represent a health problem of first magnitude, especially as the population grows older, "says Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Sevilla, José Luis Venero.
Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis are currently progressive and chronic diseases that require long-term treatment. Brain inflammation, responsible for such diseases is mediated by a central nervous system cells called microglia. They are responsible to remove cell debris when neuronal damage occurs in the brain.
"For example, if a problem occurs in neurons, microglia cells are activated in order to eliminate the remaining vestiges of the process. This is the normal mechanism cell performance, "says the researcher. In people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, where the effects are growing, the problem lies in the excessive activation of microglial cells." The problem arises when these cells are overactive. In this case generate a neurotoxic environment, starting a vicious cycle of neuronal death and activation, "said Venero.
The main contribution of this paper is to demonstrate how enzymes called caspases involved in the activation process microgial, and how the use of inhibitors such enzymes may slow the effects of the diseases caused by neurodegenerative diseases.
"They are important because they play a decisive role in the stimulation of microglia and neurotoxicity associated with this process. If we can reduce the activation of these cells through caspases, could mitigate brain inflammation processes, "he argues.
The study has already been successfully tested in samples of human brain banks, which means one step closer to the first Experiments conducted in cell culture and in laboratory animals like mice. This will open up new avenues for the pharmacological treatment of these diseases, with all that means to advance the field of neurodegeneration.
"In research, sometimes a small step is a major advance in the knowledge that can also generate a large impact on society," concludes the researcher Venero.
" There are sharply contrasting evidence in the literature scientifically demonstrate the importance of brain inflammation in these diseases. These represent a health problem of first magnitude, especially as the population grows older, "says Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Sevilla, José Luis Venero.
Alzheimer's or multiple sclerosis are currently progressive and chronic diseases that require long-term treatment. Brain inflammation, responsible for such diseases is mediated by a central nervous system cells called microglia. They are responsible to remove cell debris when neuronal damage occurs in the brain.
"For example, if a problem occurs in neurons, microglia cells are activated in order to eliminate the remaining vestiges of the process. This is the normal mechanism cell performance, "says the researcher. In people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, where the effects are growing, the problem lies in the excessive activation of microglial cells." The problem arises when these cells are overactive. In this case generate a neurotoxic environment, starting a vicious cycle of neuronal death and activation, "said Venero.
The main contribution of this paper is to demonstrate how enzymes called caspases involved in the activation process microgial, and how the use of inhibitors such enzymes may slow the effects of the diseases caused by neurodegenerative diseases.
"They are important because they play a decisive role in the stimulation of microglia and neurotoxicity associated with this process. If we can reduce the activation of these cells through caspases, could mitigate brain inflammation processes, "he argues.
The study has already been successfully tested in samples of human brain banks, which means one step closer to the first Experiments conducted in cell culture and in laboratory animals like mice. This will open up new avenues for the pharmacological treatment of these diseases, with all that means to advance the field of neurodegeneration.
"In research, sometimes a small step is a major advance in the knowledge that can also generate a large impact on society," concludes the researcher Venero.
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