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And people laugh at me when I talk to my plants... Nic 57/15 On Fri, Apr 24, 2009 at 8:29 PM, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Sick plant suffering for Parkinson patients > 24 April 2009 The University of Stavanger > > The research plant Arabidopsis thaliana is currently a patient in a > laboratory at the University of Stavanger, Norway. Researchers hope it can > give the answer to how Parkinson patients can achieve a better quality of > life. > It is the first time plants are being used to uncover the reason why > Parkinson patients experience a gradual loss of nerve cells. This is being > done in a cooperation between the clinical unit at Stavanger University > Hospital and the molecular biological experts at the University of Stavanger > in Norway. > > "The collaboration between Stavanger University Hospital and the University > of Stavanger in Norway represents a unique way of analysing and > understanding the mechanisms behind neurodegenerative diseases such as > Parkinson's. We can transfer these findings from plants to humans, because > plants have many of the proteins that humans have," says Professor Simon G. > Møller, head of Centre for Organelle Research (CORE) at the University, and > Professor Jan Petter Larsen who heads the National Competency Centre for > Movement Disorders at Stavanger University Hospital. > > Stavanger University Hospital has been involved in Parkinson's disease > (Parkinsonism) research since 1992 and is the leading establishment in this > field of research in Norway. The hospital is currently heading a major > clinical research project involving 200 patients, who are to be followed up > over the next 12 years. > > In principle the possibility of linking plant research with clinical > research is somewhat strange. But a little more than a year ago experts from > the clinical and bio-molecular research area began a dialogue, and a seed > was sown, so to speak. Therefore a laboratory at the University of Stavanger > has cultivated genetically-modified plants, which have Parkinson's disease > at the molecular level. > > The research plant is mouse-ear cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, which is one > of the most important model plants for plant genome researchers. > > Parkinson's affects approx. 1 in 1000 and is one of the most frequent > neurodegenerative diseases. At present the reasons why a certain types of > brain cells degenerate is not fully understood. The researchers at the > University of Stavanger and Stavanger University Hospital hope that the > plant project can provide insight into the mechanisms causing the disease. > One main aim is to identify biological factors that influence the > development of the disease. The key is to gain knowledge as to why nerve > cells die. It is here that the researchers in molecular biology in Stavanger > can contribute. > > Researchers are concentrating on the DJ-1 protein, which is key in > understanding the disease. Researchers have seen a clear tendency that > defective DJ-1 proteins lead to increased cell death, and that this protein, > together with other proteins, leads to a better handling of cell stress. > > "Cell death is the core concerning Parkinson's. We know that something is > wrong with the mitochondrial organelle, which produces energy, in this group > of patients. The proteins clot and are deposited in the nerve cells, which > then die," says Jan Petter Larsen. > > "If DJ-1 doesn't function, cell death occurs in the nerve cells, and it is > important to find the mechanism for this, so that intervention can be made > possible," explains Simon G. Møller. > > "It is not only a defective DJ-1 protein which can cause cell death. There > are close to 10 proteins or genes which we know cause Parkinson's disease, > but DJ-1 is unquestionably one of them," says Jan Petter Larsen. > > "What is important to remember is that when we know more about the > molecular mechanisms, it will be easier to find treatment. But this must be > done in combination with clinical data," Simon G. Møller stresses. He adds > that the collaboration with Stavanger University Hospital is essential for > the project. > > "What we can achieve by new knowledge about why nerve cells die is to > arrive at medicines and manipulation of the cells which can give the > patients a better quality of life and which can alter the disease and > prolong their life," says the researchers. > > Further research will be expanded to comprise zebra fish, which have many > of the same genes as us humans. But this type of research is costly and > researchers must spend a lot of time in raising funds for the research. This > is an important regional research project, according to the researchers, > both of whom have a desire of establishing a dedicated foundation, in the > future, for this type of research. > > This is a cooperation between the National Centre for Movement Disorders at > the Hospital, which was founded in 2003 by the Norwegian Ministry of Health > and Social Affairs, and whose responsibilities include the disease groups > Parkinson, dystonia and tremors, and CORE (Centre for Organelle Research) at > the University of Stavanger, whose goal is to understand the molecular and > cellular functions of organelles in the different organisms. > > http://www.uis.no/research/article14991-51.html > > COOPERATION: In a cooperative effort between the clinical unit at Stavanger > University Hospital and the molecular biological experts at the University > of Stavanger the researchers will now use plants to gain an understanding of > Parkinson's disease. From left: Professor Jan Petter Larsen, Senior > Researcher Xiang Ming Xu, Professor Simon G. Møller. > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn