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Scientists are looking for a drug that could restore brain function lost to diseases such as stroke, brain damage and Alzheimer's disease.
researchers at Pennsylvania State University used a combination of four small molecules to convert glial cells into functional neurons.
glial cells support and protect neurons, which are the cells in the brain that enable thinking function. In the study, published recently in Stem Cell Reports,
, researchers described how their converted neurons survived in laboratory culture for more than seven months.
new neurons also exhibit the ability to work like normal brain cells.
them to form networks and communicate with each other using electrical and chemical signals. Gong Chen, a professor of biology and co-author of the study on the proliferation of glial cells after
injury, explains that neurons do not regenerate when brain tissue is damaged.
added: "Instead, glial cells gather around damaged brain tissue and can multiply after brain damage.
" In their paper, the team explains how glial cells form scars to protect neurons from further damage.
however, due to their persistence, glial scarring also hinders the growth of new neurons and the transmission of signals between them.
the study authors point out that previous studies have tried to restore neuronal regeneration by removing glial scars, but they have not been successful. Professor
Chen believes that the best way to restore the function of damaged neurons is to use glial cells near dead neurons to create new neurons.
reprogramming astrogliocells into neurons In previous studies, Professor Chen and his team found that nine small molecules in a specific order could be chemically reprogrammed into neurons.
however, they realized it was too complicated to try to convert the method from the lab to the clinical application.
therefore, the aim of the new study is to find a smaller combination of molecules that reprogram astrocytes into functional neurons in a more direct way.
researchers tested hundreds of combinations until they found an effective formula that contained "four core drugs." "These four molecules regulate four key signaling pathways of human astrocytes, and we can efficiently convert human astrocytes (up to 70 percent) into functional neurons," said Jiu-Chao Yin, a biology graduate student who
the study's lead author.
" the team also tested a formula after removing one of the molecules.
, however, none of the formulas made up of three of these molecules were originally effective.
in fact, the best three-molecule formula is also 20% less effective than the four-molecule formula.
using only one of these molecules is not enough to convert astrocytes into neurons.
a simple alternative to gene therapy, Professor Chen and colleagues have been working on neuron regeneration.
they tried gene therapy before using chemical reprogramming.
, however, they found that gene therapy was too expensive, costing $500,000 per person.
In addition, the implementation of gene therapy requires sophisticated advanced technology and expertise. Professor
Chen explains that the main advantage of this chemical reprogramming method is that drugs containing small molecules can be easily transmitted around the world, even in rural areas without advanced medical systems.
, he and his team found that injecting drugs from these four molecules into adult mice can increase the number of new brain cells in the hippocampus, which plays a key role in memory.
many working researchers point out that the findings are only a small step in the use of drugs to regenerate neurons.
we still need a lot of work to develop the right formula, especially with regard to the "packaging and transportation" of these small molecules.
in addition to verifying their effectiveness, researchers need to determine their side effects and safety.
, however, they are confident that the four-molecule-formulated drug could be a direct treatment for patients with impaired neuronal function in the future.
neurodegenerative diseases such as brain damage, stroke and Alzheimer's disease can all lead to neuronal damage. Professor
Chen said: "My ultimate dream is to develop a simple drug delivery system, like pills, that will help stroke and Alzheimer's patients around the world regenerate new neurons and restore their lost learning and memory.
" paper link:Source:Tech.