Chinese scientists identify novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease
Chinese researchers have identified a new target for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, offering hope for slowing its progression.
TroibNews 
Researchers at Huashan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, have made a groundbreaking discovery in the arena of Parkinson's disease, identifying FAM171A2 as a novel therapeutic target. This significant finding was detailed in research published in the journal Science on Friday.
The study, led by Yu Jintai, deputy head of the neurology department at Huashan Hospital, also uncovered a candidate drug that may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, marking the culmination of five years of dedicated research.
This work was supported by the National Center for Neurological Diseases as well as the National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Brain Diseases.
Parkinson's disease ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, following Alzheimer's, and it severely impacts the daily lives of patients. Currently available medications and surgical interventions primarily manage symptoms rather than halt the disease's progression.
Projections estimate that by 2040, the number of individuals affected by Parkinson's could reach 13 million globally, with nearly half of these patients residing in China.
Pathological alpha-synuclein is recognized as a pivotal protein involved in the disease's pathology. Its accumulation leads to neuronal dysfunction and death, and it can propagate through the brain, harming surrounding healthy neurons. This would manifest in various motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, resting tremors, rigidity, and cognitive challenges such as memory decline.
The recent research breakthrough pinpointed FAM171A2 as the critical receptor that mediates the transfer of pathological alpha-synuclein. This insight paves the way for the development of new drugs to slow the disease's progression.
Employing artificial intelligence technologies, the research team screened over 7,000 compounds and identified Bemcentinib as a viable candidate. Experimental results indicated that this molecule can interfere with the interaction between the FAM171A2 protein and pathological alpha-synuclein, while also preventing the uptake of the damaging protein fibrils by dopaminergic neurons.
The research team has filed for an international patent for their treatment approach targeting FAM171A2, and they plan to proceed with preclinical studies in hopes of developing effective therapies for Parkinson's disease patients.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The study, led by Yu Jintai, deputy head of the neurology department at Huashan Hospital, also uncovered a candidate drug that may slow the progression of Parkinson's disease, marking the culmination of five years of dedicated research.
This work was supported by the National Center for Neurological Diseases as well as the National Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Brain Diseases.
Parkinson's disease ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, following Alzheimer's, and it severely impacts the daily lives of patients. Currently available medications and surgical interventions primarily manage symptoms rather than halt the disease's progression.
Projections estimate that by 2040, the number of individuals affected by Parkinson's could reach 13 million globally, with nearly half of these patients residing in China.
Pathological alpha-synuclein is recognized as a pivotal protein involved in the disease's pathology. Its accumulation leads to neuronal dysfunction and death, and it can propagate through the brain, harming surrounding healthy neurons. This would manifest in various motor symptoms, including bradykinesia, resting tremors, rigidity, and cognitive challenges such as memory decline.
The recent research breakthrough pinpointed FAM171A2 as the critical receptor that mediates the transfer of pathological alpha-synuclein. This insight paves the way for the development of new drugs to slow the disease's progression.
Employing artificial intelligence technologies, the research team screened over 7,000 compounds and identified Bemcentinib as a viable candidate. Experimental results indicated that this molecule can interfere with the interaction between the FAM171A2 protein and pathological alpha-synuclein, while also preventing the uptake of the damaging protein fibrils by dopaminergic neurons.
The research team has filed for an international patent for their treatment approach targeting FAM171A2, and they plan to proceed with preclinical studies in hopes of developing effective therapies for Parkinson's disease patients.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
