NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Intracerebroventricular delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) improves motor performance and prolongs survival in a rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a report in the November 28th issue of Nature Neuroscience.
Because ALS arises from the destruction of motor neurons, nerve growth factors have been proposed as potential treatments. Gene therapy with some of these factors has shown promise in mice, but the clinical utility of this approach is unclear. Unfortunately, simply injecting these factors, systemically or into the central nervous system, has failed to improve survival in ALS patients or in animal models of the disease.
In a previous study, Dr. Peter Carmeliet, from the University of Leuven in Belgium, and colleagues showed that VEGF seems to play a key role in preventing ALS-like nerve degeneration. Given this finding, the researchers decided to administer recombinant VEGF to a rat model of ALS.
Treatment with VEGF delayed the onset of paralysis by 17 days and prolonged survival by 22 days, “representing the largest effects in animals models of ALS achieved by protein delivery,” the investigators point out.
“To our knowledge, this is the first preclinical study to show that intracerebroventricular delivery of a neuroprotective factor has a therapeutic effect on ALS,” the researchers state. Further studies are warranted to “clarify the relevance of VEGF delivery for the ALS community.”
Source: Nat Neurosci 2004. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Biological Therapy: Genetic Engineering: Genetic Techniques: Investigative Techniques: Therapeutics: Gene Therapy: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and EquipmentCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
