Past Issues: Neurology
- 2009 Neurology
- 2008 Neurology
October 2009
Distillery: Therapeutics
Alzheimer's disease (AD)
Amyloid-β (A4) precursor protein (APP)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1574
A study in mice suggests that targeting the intracellular domain fragment of APP could help treat AD.
Summary - Amyloid-β (A4) precursor protein (APP) | PDF (109 KB) - Amyloid-β (A4) precursor protein (APP)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Notch homolog 1 translocation-associated (NOTCH1)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1575
Studies in human cells and in mice suggest that inhibiting NOTCH1 could help treat MS and other demyelinating diseases.
Summary - Notch homolog 1 translocation-associated (NOTCH1) | PDF (112 KB) - Notch homolog 1 translocation-associated (NOTCH1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Neurology
Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1576
Studies in murine hippocampal samples and in mice suggest that inhibiting PDE-4 could help reduce cognitive deficits associated with sleep deprivation.
Summary - Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) | PDF (109 KB) - Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Pain
9-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE); 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxoODE); 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE); 13-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODE); transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1; VR1)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1577
A study in rats suggests that inhibiting the activation of TRPV1 by oxidized linoleic acid metabolites could help treat pain.
Summary - 9-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE); 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxoODE); 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE); 13-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODE); transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1; VR1) | PDF (111 KB) - 9-Hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HODE); 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxoODE); 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE); 13-oxo-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODE); transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1; VR1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Spinal cord injury (SCI)
Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type S (PTPRS; PTPδ)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1578
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that inhibiting PTPRS could help treat SCI.
Summary - Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type S (PTPRS; PTPδ) | PDF (112 KB) - Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type S (PTPRS; PTPδ)
Cover Story
Rat race in PD FREE
by Lauren Martz, Staff Writer
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1522
The Michael J. Fox Foundation and Sigma-Aldrich are moving quickly to apply newly published knockout rat technology. They're aiming to develop five rat models of Parkinson's disease and make the models available for research use within a year.
Distillery: Therapeutics
β-Amyloid (Aβ); acetylcholinesterase (AChE); butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1536
Studies in cell culture suggest that compounds having both antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity could help treat AD.
Summary - β-Amyloid (Aβ); acetylcholinesterase (AChE); butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) | PDF (114 KB) - β-Amyloid (Aβ); acetylcholinesterase (AChE); butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1; NFAT1); NFATc4 (NFAT3); solute carrier family 1 glial high affinity glutamate transporter member 2 (SLC1A2; EAAT2)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1537
In vitro and postmortem human brain sample studies suggest that inhibiting NFAT1 or NFAT3 could help treat AD-related cognitive decline.
Summary - Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1; NFAT1); NFATc4 (NFAT3); solute carrier family 1 glial high affinity glutamate transporter member 2 (SLC1A2; EAAT2) | PDF (113 KB) - Nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic calcineurin-dependent 1 (NFATc1; NFAT1); NFATc4 (NFAT3); solute carrier family 1 glial high affinity glutamate transporter member 2 (SLC1A2; EAAT2)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Semaphorin 5A (SEMA5A)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1538
Genomewide analyses identified linkage and association regions for autism that could help predict susceptibility or could be targeted to help treat the condition.
Summary - Semaphorin 5A (SEMA5A) | PDF (111 KB) - Semaphorin 5A (SEMA5A)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1539
A study in rodents identified a selective coumarin MAO-B inhibitor that could help treat neurodegenerative diseases associated with increased expression of MAO-B in the brain.
Summary - Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) | PDF (109 KB) - Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Not applicable
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1540
In vitro and mouse studies identified pyridazinone derivatives that could help treat nociceptive pain.
Distillery: Therapeutics
α-Synuclein (SNCA)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1541
Studies in human tissue samples and in Drosophila suggest that increasing tyrosine phosphorylation of SNCA could help treat or prevent PD.
Summary - α-Synuclein (SNCA) | PDF (114 KB) - α-Synuclein (SNCA)
Targets and Mechanisms
Infectious fatigue
by Lev Osherovich, Senior Writer
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1492
A highly publicized study in Science has associated the retrovirus XMRV with chronic fatigue syndrome, but unaffiliated researchers, including the scientist who discovered the virus, feel the findings are still too preliminary to develop diagnostic tools and therapeutics for the condition. They cite the need for large epidemiological studies to confirm that XMRV is indeed the pathogen that causes CFS.
Full text - Infectious fatigue | PDF (180 KB) - Infectious fatigue
Distillery: Therapeutics
Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1514
Studies using patient samples and cell culture suggest that XMRV could be a diagnostic marker for CFS.
Summary - Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) | PDF (113 KB) - Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1515
In vitro and rodent studies suggest that inhibiting KLF4 could restore the regenerative capacity of neurons to help treat CNS injury.
Summary - Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) | PDF (111 KB) - Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4)
Distillery: Therapeutics
β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1480
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that aminoimidazole compounds could help treat AD.
Summary - β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) | PDF (112 KB) - β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1481
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that oxadiazole compounds could help treat AD.
Summary - Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B) | PDF (110 KB) - Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B)
Targets and Mechanisms
In the mood for HDAC inhibitors
by Tim Fulmer, Senior Writer
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1428
HDAC inhibitors, already used for cancer, also could be good antidepressants, according to Mount Sinai School of Medicine researchers. But first the correct isoforms must be identified, and the compounds must be designed to permeate the brain.
Full text - In the mood for HDAC inhibitors | PDF (166 KB) - In the mood for HDAC inhibitors
Distillery: Therapeutics
β-Amyloid (Aβ); orexin 1 receptor (OX1R); OX2R
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1445
A study in mice suggests that antagonizing OX1R and OX2R could help prevent AD.
Summary - β-Amyloid (Aβ); orexin 1 receptor (OX1R); OX2R | PDF (113 KB) - β-Amyloid (Aβ); orexin 1 receptor (OX1R); OX2R
Distillery: Therapeutics
X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1); ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD); superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1446
Studies in cell culture and in mice suggest that inhibiting XBP1 could help treat ALS.
Summary - X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1); ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD); superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) | PDF (111 KB) - X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1); ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD); superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1447
Studies in mice suggest that HDAC inhibitors could help treat depression.
Summary - Histone deacetylase (HDAC) | PDF (112 KB) - Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
Distillery: Therapeutics
NaV1.7 (SCN9A)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1448
Genetic association and mouse studies suggest that mutations in SCN9A could help predict susceptibility to epileptic seizures.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CNR2)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1449
SAR and rat studies identified a series of 5-azaindole compounds as CNR2 agonists that could help treat acute and chronic pain.
Summary - Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CNR2) | PDF (109 KB) - Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CNR2)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Not applicable
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1450
Studies in mice suggest that reducing B cell accumulation and B cell antibody production following SCI could help promote recovery.
