Hope/NT-3 drug to protect + regenerate - Ohio State Research

[Guest guest]

Wow I love good news! Thanks so much G.

J

[Guest guest]

(Hopeful news about a new drug to regenerate CMT nerves. Written by

Norman Latov, M.D., Ph.D. and published in " Neuropathy News " issue 13,

June 2002, - a publication of the Neuropathy Association. I copied it

and put it here for those of you who do not get the NA Newsletter or do

not know about this new hopeful research. It is easy to understand. ~ G)

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Dr. Sarife Sahenk, Professor of Neurology at Ohio State University, (in

the U.S.) is investigating the ability of a new drug, NT-3, to protect

and regenerate peripheral nerves, under a grant from the Neuropathy

Association.

Dr. Sahenk and her group have shown that Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), which is

made by the Schwann cells, or myelin-forming cells in the peripheral

nerves, can help maintain axons, and allow them to regenerate. " " We

found that treating mice that have defective myelin sheaths with NT-3

resulted in a significant regeneration of their nerve fibers, " states

Dr. Sahenk. " Our group at Ohio State is now conducting a clinical pilot

study to determine whether NT-3 can help patients with a form of

demyelinating neuropathy called CMT.

Dr. Sahenk believes that in demyelinating neuropathies such as CMT

disease, CIDP, MAG neuropathy and Guillian-Barre syndrome among others,

there is a deficiency of NT-3 resulting in breakdown of the axons. They

found that normal axons surrounded by sick Schwann cells degenerate and

fail to regenerate, whereas they can regenerate if surrounded by normal

Schwann cells or given NT-3.

In addition to funding from The Neuropathy Association, NT-3 is being

provided by the manufacturer, Regeneron Inc. " This study should be

concluded in the fall " states Dr. Sahennk, " at which time the results

will become available. " We can't wait.