Two types of protein have been identified as having particular importance to healthy brain function, and this discovery may lead to new treatments for people who have suffered brain damage.
Research conducted by doctors at KU Leuven (University of Leuven) – Dr. Eve Seuntjens and Dr. Veronique van den Berghe of the Department of Development and Regeneration – found that proteins Sip1 and Unc5b perform vital roles.
These proteins are essential in the development and migration of projection neurons and interneurons – which in their turn make connections between the brain’s various departments and regulate signals.
If there are two few interneurons, or they are working incorrectly, they may not manage to connect to the projection neurons and this can lead to there being short circuits in the nervous system.
It is believed that interneuron problems may factor into health issues such as schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In mice, protein Unc5b has been found to block the progression of interneurons on their journey to connect with projection neurons. Sip1 deactivates Unc5b, allowing the important connections to be achieved.
For individuals who lack fully operational interneurons, or have too few, due to brain injury, disorder, or disease, this research could mean that new treatments are on the horizon.
Dr. Eve Seuntjens states. “Now that there are techniques to create stem cells from skin cells, we can mimic the development of stem cells into interneurons and study what can go wrong. From there, we can test whether certain drugs can reverse the damage.”
