After 20 plus years I'm getting an exciting feeling of anticipation...;-) Things are starting to happen!!! Nic 63/21 On 10 November 2015 at 03:04, Rayilyn Brown <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > another abstract from Joanie McGuire > > Program#/Poster#: > 12.02 > > > > > Presentation Title: > Stopping progression of Parkinson's disease with the drug > phenylbutyrate > > > > > Location: > N230 > > > > > Presentation time: > Saturday, Oct 17, 2015, 1:15 PM - 1:30 PM > > > > > Topic: > ++C.03.a. Human studies > > > > > Authors: > *C. R. FREED1, M. WANG1, J. CUMMISKEY1, K. B. BJUGSTAD1, B. A. > SYMMES1, C. A. JOHNSON2, R. C. MURPHY2, M. A. LEEHEY3, W. ZHOU1; > 1Div. of Clin. Pharmacol., 2Dept. of Pharmacol., 3Dept. of > Neurol., Univ. Colorado Sch. of Med., Aurora, CO > > > > > Abstract: > Parkinson's disease has excellent symptomatic treatment with > drugs such as L-DOPA, but the underlying disease process causes a > relentless downhill course. > > > > Several drugs have been tested in an effort to alter disease > progression, but all have failed. We have developed a new concept for > stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease by turning on a > neuroprotective gene with an FDA-approved drug. In Parkinson’s disease, the > protein alpha-synuclein forms abnormal deposits called Lewy bodies as well > as toxic fibrils which contribute to the death of dopamine neurons. We have > discovered that the drug phenylbutyrate can prevent aggregation of > alpha-synuclein in transgenic mice which are genetically programmed to > develop a form of Parkinson’s disease as they age. > > > > The drug works by upregulating the neuroprotective gene DJ-1. > Gene activation leads to an increase in lysosome and exosome activity, > promoting transfer of alpha-synuclein from neurons into the bloodstream > where the protein is eliminated. In mice, phenylbutyrate increased plasma > alpha-synuclein by about 100 per cent compared to non-treated control > animals. > > > > To see if phenylbutyrate has the same effect in people, we > have given the drug for three weeks to 20 people with newly diagnosed > Parkinson’s disease and to 20 age-matched subjects without the disease. We > found that the drug increased the level of alpha-synclein in plasma of all > 40 subjects from 50 to 150 per cent of baseline values, just as it had done > in transgenic mice, strongly suggesting that the drug can mobilize > alpha-synuclein from neurons into blood plasma. While baseline plasma > alpha-synuclein varied between subjects, the average alpha-synuclein plasma > concentrations at baseline and during phenylbutyrate administration did not > differ between patients with Parkinson's disease and normal subjects. > Results are compatible with a neuroprotective effect of phenylbutyrate by > accelerating clearance of alpha-synuclein from brain into plasma. > > > > A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in newly diagnosed > Parkinson patients will be needed to prove whether phenylbutyrate can stop > the progression of Parkinson’s disease in humans. > > > > > Disclosures: > C.R. Freed: C. Other Research Support (receipt of drugs, > supplies, equipment or other in-kind support); Hyperion Pharmaceuticals. M. > Wang: None. J. Cummiskey: None. K.B. Bjugstad: None. B.A. Symmes:None. C.A. > Johnson: None. R.C. Murphy: None. M.A. Leehey: None. W. Zhou: None. > > > > > Keyword (s): > PARKINSON'S DISEASE > > > > > > NEUROPROTECTION > > > > > > DOPAMINE > > > > > Support: > Walter S. and Lucienne Driskill Foundation > > > > > > Michael J. Fox Foundation > > > > > > Mr. Charles Ackerman > > > > > > Mr. Ray Sidhom > > > > > > Mr. John Anderson > > > > > > > > > Ray > Rayilyn Brown > Past Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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