 |
 |
Hi Folks, Talking about real INTERESTING developments (Colman Mullin's report on the GDNF news release), I read a very exiting report yesterday relating to two previous posted contributions (Alan Bonander's "Somatix" - 25 Jul 1994 and Jon Baltos's "Possible new treatments for PD" - 2 Sept 1994). The report was published in Science (During, M.J., Naegele, J.R., O'Malley, K.L. & Geller, A.I. Long-Term Behavioural Recovery in Parkinsonian Rats by an HSV Vector Expressing Tyrosine Hydroxylase. Science 266, 1399-1403, 25 November 1994) and investigated a therapeutic approach whereby endogenous striatal cells are converted into levodopa producing cells. Efficient behavioural and biochemical recovery was maintained for a year after gene transfer in rats. This is the good news. The bad news (according to the authors) is that the vector system used needs to be improved, as wild type HSV-1 virusses may be included in the packaging system. Also, a decrease in long term expression is reported, which may also be due to properties in the vector system. Vector systems are, however, developed and refined continuously, and the prospects of overcoming this hurdle, even with current technology, is excellent. Other factors may limit the onset of clinical trials in the very near future, such as the potential interference of TH- expression in striatal projection neurons with other brain functions. The approach to the problem, though, is sound, and we can only encourage the researchers to continue their investigation! Hans ===================================================================== Hans van Zyl | Cell Physiology Group | [log in to unmask] Irene Animal Production Institute | Tel: (27) 12 672 9261 Private Bag X2 | Fax: (27) 12 665 1604 IRENE 1675, South Africa | =====================================================================