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Hello! everyone, I just read this and I really do not know what to make of it, is it for real?? Linda Forrest's Mom http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/3344a.htm Sonic Hedgehog Protects Dopaminergic Neurons From Neurotoxin ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- July 28, 1997 -- A team of scientists from report in a scientific paper published in The Journal of Neuroscience that the protein, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is active in promoting the survival of specific populations of neurons from the midbrain, striatum and spinal cord in vitro. The paper, titled, "Sonic Hedgehog Promotes the Survival of Specific CNS Neuron Populations and Protects These Cells from Toxic Insult In Vitro" and appears in the journal's August 1, 1997 issue. Significantly, the report, from the research team at Ontogeny, Inc., led by Drs. Nagesh Mahanthappa and Kevin Pang, demonstrates that Shh was shown to protect cultures of midbrain dopaminergic neurons from the toxic effects of MPP+, a specific neurotoxin that induces Parkinson's disease in vivo. Previous work has demonstrated that Shh plays a role in inducing differentiation of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain and motor neurons in the spinal cord. The present work suggests a possible role for Shh in the maintenance and survival of these neurons beyond initial differentiation. Since human neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, are characterized by gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the adult, these results suggest a possible therapeutic role for Shh. "We are delighted that these results support the premise that Sonic Hedgehog has both neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity in addition to its neuroinductive properties," said Dr. Doros Platika, President and CEO of Ontogeny. "This provides significant evidence that Shh activity may not be confined to development and validates our approach for investigating inducing or developmental control molecules as therapeutics in degenerative diseases. In collaboration with our partner Biogen, we hope to confirm these findings in in vivo models of neurologic disease." Ontogeny, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is a leader in the pioneering field of developmental biology, using technologies based on recent breakthroughs in the discovery and identification of inducing molecules responsible for cell and tissue differentiation. The Company is commercializing therapeutics for neurological disease, including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and bone and cartilage problems, including osteoporosis and fractures. This site is maintained by [log in to unmask] Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1995 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.