Nerve damage caused by motor neurone disease (MND) could soon be reversed using existing drugs, a promising new study has revealed.
Researchers have pinpointed an issue in patients’ nerve cells that depletes energy levels in the mitochondria – the power supply to the motor neurones.
The results of the study are now being used to look for existing drugs that boost mitochondrial function and may be able to be repurposed to treat MND.
Researchers have pinpointed an issue in patients’ nerve cells that depletes energy levels in the mitochondria – the power supply to the motor neurones
Motor neurone disease is a rare condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time.
Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for the disease, although there are treatments that can help to reduce the impact it has on a person’s daily life.
Sadly, the disease can significantly shorten life expectancy and eventually leads to death.
In the study, researchers from the Euan MacDonald Centre at Edinburgh University used stem cells to generate motor neurone cells in the lab.
They also examined post-mortem spinal cord tissue from people with MND.
An analysis of these cells revealed that the axon – the long part of the motor neurone cell that connects to muscle – is shorter than in healthy cells.
The movement of the mitochondria along these axons was also impaired, leading to a low energy supply to the motor neurones.
However, when the researchers boosted the mitochondria, the axon reverted back to normal.
An analysis of cells revealed that the axon – the long part of the motor neurone cell that connects to muscle – is shorter than in healthy cells (healthy axon pictured)
Dr Arpan Mehta, Lady Edith Wolfson Fellow and PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, and lead author of the study, said: ‘The importance of the axon in motor nerve cells cannot be understated.
‘Our data provides hope that by restoring the cell’s energy source we can protect the axons and their connection to muscle from degeneration.’
The results of the study are now being used to look for existing drugs that could boost mitochondria function.
In particular, a drug called ropinirole, which is currently used to treat Parkinson’s disease, was found to reverse axon damage, indicating it could be used to treat MND.
The results of the study are now being used to look for existing drugs that could boost mitochondria function (artist’s impression of mitochondria)
Dr Mehta added: ‘Work is already underway to identify existing licensed drugs that can boost the mitochondria and repair the motor neurons.
‘This will then pave the way to test them in clinical trials.’
While the study focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of motor neurone disease, the team is hopeful that the findings will apply to other forms of the disease.
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk