Researchers Neutralize Parkinson's Dopamine Killers 105
futurity.org writes with news that Iowa State researchers have made a breakthrough that could eventually lead to a cure for Parkinson's. Identifying the protein that kills the dopamine-producing cells in the brain has allowed the researchers to disable it and could be the first step in the development of new treatments. "Now, Kanthasamy’s group is looking for additional compounds that also can serve to neutralize protein kinase-C. By identifying more compounds that perform the function of neutralizing kinase-C, researchers are more likely to locate one that works well and has few side effects. This discovery is expected to provide new treatment options to stop the progression of the disease or even cure it. 'Once we find the compound, we need to make sure it’s safe. If everything goes well, it could take about 10 years, and then we might be able to see something that will truly make a difference in the lives of people with this disorder,' says Kanthasamy."
Re:Skepticism may be warranted, here. (Score:5, Informative)
First of all, there isn't just one Protein Kinase C. There are a number of different versions with different jobs. Hence the list of the various isozymes in the article. The one in question is Protein Kinase C delta (PKC), and is NOT covered in the wikipedia article.
PKC mediates apoptosis, or programmed cell death, in certain dopamine producing neurons. By blocking the enzyme, you can prevent the apoptosis. Reading some of Dr. Kanthasamy's papers, it's clear that he's already found some agents that do this in animal models. This is, of course, a long way from human trials (10 years if things go well, I believe is what he said in the article). But this is very promising avenue of research.
What I can't figure out is why this is recent news. Dr. Kanthasamy has clearly been following this line of research for a few years. There's a 2007 paper entitled Neuroprotective Effect of Protein Kinase C{delta} Inhibitor Rottlerin in Cell Culture and Animal Models of Parkinson's Disease [sciencemag.org], so clearly he had already connected PKC with PD and was already investigating agents to block it.
Re:Skepticism may be warranted, here. (Score:4, Informative)
There are many different forms of PKC, including PKC delta, the one that seems to be in question here according to recent publications from this lab. Specifically, a caspase enzyme is cleaving PKC delta into a smaller protein, and it's this cleaved version that appears to be causing the damage to the dopamine neurons in the nigra. Caspases mediate programmed cell death, and the compound in the paper I looked at blocks a certain caspase that was activated by the presence of certain metals.
So while PKC and caspases are found widely throughout the body, there's actually a fair degree of specificity in the current model. Of course it's still early, and there are things to worry about, such as a possible increased likelihood for cancer (caspase 3 may be involved in breast cancer). But if this particular interaction between capase 3 and PKC delta can be successfully blocked without harm to other systems, we may have a good treatment on our hands.
Re:Hmm, how safe is safe enough? (Score:3, Informative)
You're at least comparing apples, oranges, and pears here.
The current meds can help alleviate the symptoms of the disease, but do nothing to arrest it's progress. Eventually, the disease progresses until the drugs cannot help anymore.
Various transplants aim to reverse the progression of the disease significantly. If it works, it's like starting over, but you still have a progressive degenerative disease and if you live long enough, you'll need another transplant.
TFA is talking about a drug that would halt the progress of the disease right where it is. Whatever your level of function is, that's where it will stay using only this theoretical new drug. Presumably, you would then use other methods to either reverse the progress (knowing it won't progress again) or to alleviate the symptoms.
Yes, it's quite speculative, but IF it pans out, it could be a major improvement in the lives of Parkinson's sufferers.
Re:Skepticism may be warranted, here. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Skepticism may be warranted, here. (Score:4, Informative)
Presumably, the target of this particular kinase C form is involved in the apoptosis pathway for dopamine-releasing neurons, so keeping the molecular switch from being turned on could prevent the cell death from being carried out. Since the structures of isozymes are different, you could develop a drug that knocks out this variant of PKC without turning off PKC globally.
However, preventing apoptosis of neurons, while possibly leading to an effective treatment, still does not address why brain cells would feel the need to kill themselves. For instance, in at least some Parkinson's patients, neurons suffer from a buildup of improperly folded protein called alpha-synuclein (compare amyloid and tau in Alzheimer's, prions in prion diseases). (However, overall there are many possible causes of Parkinson's and related syndromes, including unknown causes.) Cell suicide is meant as a protective measure for the remaining cells so they are not in turn poisoned by the output of misfolded proteins. What happens when you turn off apoptosis, and cells which turn "sick" are no longer able to die?
Re:How do they calculate the time needed (Score:3, Informative)
Willing to risk the entire company by taking a few shortcuts? Ethically you might say it's worth it. Better for a company to risk death than a person. But that's not how things are decided. Both have to live. And that takes a lot of time.
Re:Parkinson's Disease questions (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Hmm, how safe is safe enough? (Score:3, Informative)
The problem with this approach is that the worse the disease, the more snake-oil you can find out there, promising to cure you and your wallet of all of your ills.
For something that IS time sensitive like Parkinson's, I'd not lower the bar on claims, I'd lower the bar on the risk aspect.
In otherwords, lets say I make a claim that my drug does "A". I would like for the FDA to evaluate it for "A" and the major risks of "Will this likely hurt me more than help?"
Then once "A" has been sufficiently proven, and patients aren't immediately dying from liver failure or brain hemorrhages, I'd like to see the drug released with a medical disclaimer that it is still in the 'trial' phase and the negative effects have not yet been fully evaluated.
That way, you don't have snake oil (ineffective) treatments being sold, but you aren't holding off a treatment from someone who WILL die because the treatment may cause their hair to fall out. (Isn't that how we treat chemotherapy?)
Re:Hmm, how safe is safe enough? (Score:5, Informative)
Saying Protein Kinase C is the key to neutralizing Parkinson's Diseases is like saying Money is the key to the Financial Crisis.
The clinical effects of Parkinson's Disease are the result of neuron death. You can't reverse the effects. Even if you induce neuronal growth, the brain will have to relearn the connections it needs to make, which took a lifetime to form. Forget about playing the piano again. You'll have to relearn to play (although you'll still have the conceptual knowledge).