New findings from a study of a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suggest a possible therapeutic strategy for treating the disease. ALS usually leads to paralysis and death within 3 to 5 years after onset (Nature. 2004;429:413-417).
Recent studies have indicated that reduced concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a substance involved in angiogenesis and the protection of neurons, predispose mice and humans to ALS. In the new study, researchers in England and Belgium reported that a single injection of a genetically modified virus bearing a gene for VEGF delayed ALS onset and progression in a strain of ALS-prone mice, even when treatment was started after the onset of paralysis.
The VEGF treatment increased the animals' life expectancy by 30%, with no apparent toxic effects. "We believe that this approach may have potential as a safe and practical treatment for many of . . . [Full Text of this Article]
