Alzheimer's, other diseases, may benefit from first live studies of key cell ...( te for a model system for neuro-degener...)

te for a model system for neuro-degenerative disease: the slime mold Dictyostelium. The discovery of Hirano bodies in Dictyostelium was an accidental offshoot of basic cell biology research that Fechheimer and his students pursued for more than a decade. The research team found at least five points of similarity between Dictyostelium Hirano bodies and those found from human autopsy samples.

Until now, Hirano bodies have been found by autopsy most often in the hippocampus region of the brain, though the bodies are not restricted to neurons. Still, the bodies appear to have some association with a wide range of diseases, including ataxic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Pick's disease (both neurodegenerative disorders) and diabetes.

The presence of Hirano bodies in association with all these diseases has led scientists to speculate that they have some role in neurological deterioration--especially in diseases like Alzheimer's. Fechheimer and his colleagues, however, argue that their results support a broader interpretation. They propose that a range of conditions may generate signals that induce the formation of Hirano bodies.

So far, nobody knows if these bodies are doing good or bad things for cells. Some researchers had speculated that the bodies played a role in apoptosis or so-called "programmed cell death," in which cells signal for their own demise, often for the good of the entire organism. However, Fechheimers work shows that Hirano bodies are not necessarily linked to a stage in cell death. The new ability to create Hirano bodies in the lab will allow researchers to explore their mechanisms with greater understanding.

'"/>

Contact: Cheryl Dybas
cdybas@nsf.gov
703-292-8070
National Science Foundation
29-Apr-2002

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Leisure activity may reduce risk of Alzheimers, says USC research team
2. Alzheimers, nutrition, smallpox, and other Human Health Frontiers addressed by AAAS speakers
3. Elevated levels of cholesterol play an even greater role in development of Alzheimers, study shows
4. First live studies of important cell structures may shed light on Alzheimers, other diseases
5. Scientist finds genetic clues to Alzheimers, establishes DNA bank for future studies
6. Brain damage from HIV, Alzheimers, may have similar mechanism, SFVAMC researchers say
7. Genetically Engineered Mice Show Characteristic Signs Of Alzheimers, Could Be Ideal Tool For Testing New Therapies
8. Using PET Scans To Monitor Cancer Cells Activity And Predict Who Will Develop Alzheimers, Other Diseases
9. New molecular link key to cellular proteins involved in cancer progression, other diseases
10. New hydrothermal vents discovered as South Pacific Odyssey research begins
11. Posters highlight water, energy and other natural resource research