Transcript What is CDNF?

What is CDNF?
• Conserved Dopamine Neurotrophic Factor
• Growth factor known as a trophic factor
• Stimulates the growth of neurons
Recent In Vivo Studies
• Scientists need rats that exhibit Parkinson’slike symptoms
– Administer 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)
• Kills off Dopaminergic neurons
• Induces Parkinson’s-like symptoms
L-Dopa
Dopamine
6-hydroxydopamine
Important Lab Findings
• CDNF was injected into Striatum of rats before
6-OHDA
– CDNF prevented PD symptoms from occurring
• Rats were treated to express PD symptoms
– Injected with 6-OHDA
– 4 weeks later, treated with CDNF
• Neuron function and viability was restored
http://www.pharmacy.ac.uk/1638.html
Screening Patients
• Adequate patient response to L-Dopa
– Indicates DA neurons are degraded but treatable
• No effect of L-Dopa
– Indicates that DA neurons have degraded
completely
http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-10-parkinson-disease-closer.html
Benefits in human trials
• CDNF has a “protective” effect
– Prevents neuron degradation
• CDNF can restore up to 98% function
– Promoting DNA replication
• Can be administered through lumbar puncture
– Out-patient procedure
– Anaesthetized for comfort
– Use Mannitol to penetrate the Blood-Brain-Barrier