Scientists 'Switch Off' Brain Cell Death In Mice

fishmike sends this excerpt from a Reuters report: "Scientists have figured out how to stop brain cell death in mice with brain disease and say their discovery deepens understanding of the mechanisms of human neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. British researchers writing in the journal Nature (abstract) said they had found a major pathway leading to brain cell death in mice with prion disease, the mouse equivalent of Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease (CJD). ... Mallucci's team found that the buildup of mis-folded proteins in the brains of mice with prion disease activated a natural defense mechanism in cells, which switches off the production of new proteins. This would normally switch back on again, the researchers explained, but in these ill mice the continued build-up of misshapen proteins keeps the switch turned off. This is the trigger point leading to brain cell death, because key proteins essential for cell survival are not made. By injecting a protein that blocks the "off" switch, the scientists were able to restore the production of the survival proteins and halt the neurodegeneration."

I for one welcome our new rodent overlords

[SirGarlon]

First we had mice with enhanced brain development [slashdot.org]. Now, immortality! If those two research teams ever cross-breed their lab animals it will be like Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy!

Interesting...

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Any word, as yet, on what eventually happens to the cells thus saved from early death?

Obviously, having your neurons die isn't a win; but the buildup of malformed proteins that started the shutdown process is presumably still developing if you bring protein synthesis back online.

Are the malformed proteins not a serious issue, so long as the spurious shutdown signal is ignored, or do they eventually hose the cell as well?

Re:There for a reason

[sideslash]

It seems like cell immortality basically equals cancer elsewhere in the body. Maybe since brain cells are not orginarily regenerated, longevity won't cause a direct problem?

Re:There for a reason

[girlintraining]

Pardon my lack of complete knowledge here. I'm just IT for a cancer genomics group that just picks up stuff here and there. So I'm a bit aware that there's several points in a pathway that can be blocked, with each causing its own share of symptoms. Just simply blocking the entire "off" switch - which I would assume is a pretty deep pathway - would probably cause as much harm as it would help, wouldn't it?

Well, the prions don't stop being manufactured... so basically, those proteins continue to be generated until the person dies, and possibly beyond then. They can't be sterilized by any method known short of nuking them... prions are damn near indestructible. And we're tinkering with inactivating the only biological mechanism to halt their spread in the population.

Re:I for one welcome our new rodent overlords

[__aaeihw9960]

This is the second reference to the Secret of Nimh I've seen on /. today (damnit, I can't find the other one).

It's a bit unnerving. I feel like there will be an announcement about a remake before too long.

So help me, if there is, I'm done with this site.