Navigation Links
Scientists use gene transfer technology and common virus to block neuropathic pain in animals

Remember how it felt the last time you burned your finger on a hot stove? Imagine what it's like to have that burning pain in your hands or feet all the time and know there's virtually nothing you can do about it.

David Fink, M.D.It's called neuropathic pain, and it's a common complication of many diseases and medical conditions, especially diabetes. Drugs have little effect on this type of pain, which is caused by damage to sensory neurons that transmit pain, temperature and touch signals to and from the brain.

Now, scientists at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the University of Michigan Medical School have developed a way to block the signals responsible for neuropathic pain. The secret to their success is based on a virus called herpes simplex or HSV ?the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. The scientists use a disabled form of the virus, called a vector, to deliver genes to the nucleus of neural cells.

A study published today in the June, 2005 of the Annals of Neurology describes how laboratory rats with nerve damage showed much less pain-related behavior after receiving injections of the HSV-based vector, which contained a gene called GAD, or glutamic acid decarboxylase. The treatment's pain-killing effect lasted up to six weeks, and even longer in rats that received additional injections.

The study is the first to demonstrate the successful use of gene transfer technology, using a herpes viral vector, to treat peripheral neuropathic pain in animals. Based on their success in related studies with research animals, the scientists hope to conduct the first clinical study in human patients soon.

“We use the vector to provide targeted gene delivery to the nervous system,?says David J. Fink, M.D., the Robert W. Brear Professor of Neurology in the U-M Medical School and staff neurologist at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, who co-directed the research study. “In this case, we're not trying to correct
'"/>

Source:University of Michigan


Page: 1 2 3 4 5

Related biology news :

1. Scientists ID molecular switch in liver that triggers harmful effects of saturated and trans fats
2. Scientists Replicate Hepatitis C Virus in Laboratory
3. Scientists detect probable genetic cause of some Parkinsons disease cases
4. Scientists find missing enzyme for tuberculosis iron scavenging pathway
5. Scientists seek answers on what activates deadly anthrax spores
6. Yale Scientists Find MicroRNA Regulates Ras Cancer Gene
7. Scientists collaborate to assess health of global environment
8. Scientists decipher genome of fungus that can cause life-threatening infections
9. Scientists discover the cellular roots of graying hair
10. Scientists rid stem cell culture of key animal cells
11. Scientists develop new color-coded test for protein folding
Post Your Comments:
(Date:7/23/2008)...e estuaries on the Pacific coast of California and... biomass of these parasites exceeds that of top pr...Their findings, which could have significant ecolo...week,s issue of the journal Nature . , Biomass ...ven habitat. It is expressed either as the weight ...
(Date:7/23/2008)...dy sex pheromones in a tiny worm found that the sa...he worms, life cycle, the long-lived dauer larva. ...n July 23, represent the first time that reproduct...d small molecules. , Where scientists once foc...n organism,s biology, they are now realizing that ...
(Date:7/23/2008)...orking on new ways of storing CO 2 emissions unde...g. , The University has launched the Carbon Stor...-created position of Professor of Carbon Capture a...o find efficient and reliable ways of gathering CO...g it in former oil and gas fields or aquifers inde...
(Date:7/23/2008)...ene for one particular odor receptor become cluele...ity Medical Center have discovered. , Because t...es, these flies will indiscriminately attempt to h...e already mated. The signals they,re missing are p...s. The work appears online in Nature Neuroscienc...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Parasites outweigh predators in Pacific Coast estuaries 2Parasites outweigh predators in Pacific Coast estuaries 3Sex and lifespan linked in worms 2Durham scientists to tackle CO2 storage in global warming challenge 21 missing gene leads to fruitless mating rituals 2Worldwide atmospheric measurements will determine the role of atmospheric fine particles 1233 1Worldwide atmospheric measurements will determine the role of atmospheric fine particles 1233 2STEM CELLS Journal Names Co Editors 1821 1STEM CELLS Journal Names Co Editors 1821 2Jazz Pharmaceuticals to Present at Lazard Healthcare Conference 1819 1Johnson 26 Johnson Announces Changes to Accelerate Growth 1817 1Johnson 26 Johnson Announces Changes to Accelerate Growth 1817 2Johnson 26 Johnson Announces Changes to Accelerate Growth 1817 3
... involuntary movement in patients with Huntington,...y patients experiencing a greater improvement, acc...journal Neurology. , Overall, patients who receiv...onsidered by their doctors to have improved consid...acebo. , Dr. Kathleen M. Shannon, neurologist and...
...on the multi-decade debate about how the brain kno...don,t have to watch your legs and feet when you wa...cientists have debated two options for how the bra...ys that the brain monitors signals it sends to the...d uses this to predict where the limb has moved to...
... they have finished the first complete analysis of... important model organisms: S. cerevisiae (baker,s...Cellzome, in collaboration with the European Molec...ek,s online edition of Nature. , "To carry out the...that may contain dozens of molecules," says Giulio...
...fishermen,s nets will be hauling in ever diminishi...he global tide of over fishing, says a fisheries e... Dr. Daniel Pauly says the crisis in the world,s f... attitude and political will. , And, he says, the...al champion like a Bono or Mandela to give finned ...
Other Biology News:Study finds drug may cut down involuntary movements 2Study finds drug may cut down involuntary movements 3How does the brain know what the right hand is doing? 2The closest look ever at the cell's machines 2The closest look ever at the cell's machines 3Hooked on fishing, and we're heading for the bottom, says scientist 2Hooked on fishing, and we're heading for the bottom, says scientist 3
(Date:7/24/2008)...re/ -- The Global Probiotics Council,(GPC), a comm...ult Honsha,Co., Ltd., announced the two awardees w...rant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO) today. The p...who will continue to contribute to,the advancement...United,States., Ajay S. Gulati, MD, an Assistant ...
(Date:7/24/2008)... Important Advance in Radiofrequency ...if., July 24 /- PEAK Surgical, Inc., ...tissue dissection system,based on a proprietary te...rug Administration has granted the company 510(k) ... use in general surgery. The PEAK Surgery System,c...
(Date:7/24/2008)...ire/ -- Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,a privately-...nced that it,has launched ceftazidime for injectio...m antibiotic. Sagent will offer ceftazidime in 1,a...ge vials. According to,IMS data, 2007 sales of inj...ximately $45.7 million., "Sagent is proud to be p...
(Date:7/24/2008)...swire-FirstCall/ -- United,Therapeutics Corporatio...lease its 2008 second quarter financial results be...., United Therapeutics will host a half-hour tele.... Eastern Time. The teleconference is accessible,b...rs dialing,1-706-679-8129. A rebroadcast of the te...
Breaking Biology Technology:Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 2Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 3Global Probiotics Council Announces First Awardees for New Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research 4PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 2PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 3PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK(R) Surgery System for Use in General Surgery 4Sagent Pharmaceuticals Launches Ceftazidime for Injection, USP 2
...morial Day marks the traditional start of summer. ...d off the three-day weekend to return to work, sur...or the year, vacations are around the corner, and ...ity to consume one,s weight in beer and barbeque. ...office become rare and no one can really blame you...
...professor will be the liaison between United State...p that is building the U.S. share of ITER , an in...d lead to an abundant, economical and environmenta...international ITER participants initialed an agree...ment of Energy and its ITER Project Office - wh...
... a lowly 16 th in broadband deployment worldwide,...he forefront. , ,Following the passage of Senate B...t, the state aims to extend what some have called ...ther underserved areas. Gov. Jim Doyle signed has ... to qualified companies who expand broadband Inter...
...orp. , the Ottawa, Ontario-based developer of syst...ng markets, has announced the acquisition of Sili...gn company based in Eau Claire, for $14 million. ,... division of Tundra Semiconductor Corp. The compan...puter chip for large networking and computing cust...
Other Biology Technology:Summer marks countdown to DEMOfall 2Summer marks countdown to DEMOfall 3UW-Madison professor to coordinate U.S. fusion science effort 2Roll out the broadband 2Canadian firm acquires Silicon Logic 2
...s between P-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein l...eukocytes on the lumenal surface of endothelial ce...y role of PSGL-1 in mediating the interaction betw...ented.MAB4092 completely blocks recognition of PSG...
Request Info
...ntact Printing Kit contains choice of Printing Sur...stroms of Gold over Ti adhesion layer, 1 silicon w...hesion layer, or 3 plain glass slides) and PDMS St...100 / 200 micron squares or 100 um x 10 mm or 200 ...
LTBP-1 (E-20)
Biology Products: