14 DAY TRIAL // The new research consists in a new pharmacological target combined with a neurotrophic factor, that could strengthen the striatal neurons. These last are the most affected cells in patients with Huntington's chorea. Research was led by Silvia Ginés, lecturer in the University of Barcelona, Paola Paoletti, a doctoral student and Jordi Alberch, professor with the Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences in the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Barcelona.
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative illness caused by a mutation inside the gene that encodes the Huntington protein. It mainly affects movement control through the basal ganglia, as well as other important functions.
The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most studied potential therapeutic targets, as it is essential for the survival of the severely low striatal neurons. Researchers tested on an in vitro model, whether the mutated Huntington cells respond to the BDNF. They concluded that this treatment is actually effective but added that “combined treatments are probably needed to modulate different aspects of the pathology.”
The whole process is rather complicated as the BDNF must be connected to the TrkB catalytic receptor, in order to act. This receptor is the key that triggers the signals of the three pathways that help the striatal neurons survive, and the problem is that TrkB levels are very reduced in Huntington patients. After scientists reproduced the disease's conditions, they induced oxidative stress and found out that two of the pathway functioned correctly when BDNF was administrated, but the third one did not.
Huntington's disease affects the entire body, even though its main impact is on the brain. It severely damages striatal neurons as well as the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus. Patients cannot control their movements and have memory problems. They are not able to live a normal life, nor do simple everyday tasks.