Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients suffer from sensory disturbances, muscle weakness and pain. The cause of the disorder is not fully understood. The immune system attacks the nerves in the arms and legs. The nerve sheath, an insulating coating around the nerve cells, is broken down and eventually the cells die. “The drugs that are currently available in the market are very expensive and primarily act on the immune system,” says the senior author. “A therapy that protects the nerves and aids regeneration is not yet available.”
In the current study, the team has now explored the protective effect of propionate in cell culture and in animal experiments. The group isolated the two most important cell types in the peripheral nervous system from rats: nerve cells and Schwann cells; the latter form the sheath of the nerve cells.
The researchers cultivated the two cell types separately and exposed them to oxidative stress, which usually causes damage to the cells. The team treated some cell cultures with propionate and compared the effects with untreated cultures. Significantly fewer cells died in the treated cultures.
In addition, the cells grew back more readily after treatment than when no propionate had been administered. Animal experiments confirmed these results: after administering propionate, the nerve cells had better protection against oxidative damage.
The researchers also gained new insights into the mechanism of propionate action. They showed that the substance targets the receptor FFAR3 on the surface of nerve cells and Schwann cells and also affects the reading of DNA via histone molecules. This produces new enzymes and proteins that protect against harmful influences and help repair damage.
The group published the results in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
The findings from previous studies with MS patients suggested to the researchers that propionate could have a beneficial effect on CIDP patients. The research group had shown that taking propionate has an anti-inflammatory effect in people with multiple sclerosis and reduces the relapse rate.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2216941120
Propionic acid protects nerve cells and helps them regenerate
- 755 views
- Added
Latest News
Immune cells identified as…
By newseditor
Posted 28 Mar
TB blood test which could d…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Mar
Propionate supplementation…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Mar
Role of human Kallistatin i…
By newseditor
Posted 26 Mar
Addressing both flu and COV…
By newseditor
Posted 26 Mar
Other Top Stories
New accurate method to analyze biomarkers for autism detection!
Read more
Fast and accurate paper test for blood type
Read more
A pocket-sized retina camera, no dilating required
Read more
Delivering drugs to specific neurons
Read more
Standard model of memory consolidation challenged!
Read more
Protocols
All-optical presynaptic pla…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
Epigenomic tomography for p…
By newseditor
Posted 20 Mar
A mouse DRG genetic toolkit…
By newseditor
Posted 17 Mar
An optogenetic method for t…
By newseditor
Posted 13 Mar
Profiling native pulmonary…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Mar
Publications
Salmonella manipulates macr…
By newseditor
Posted 28 Mar
BHLHE40/41 regulate microgl…
By newseditor
Posted 28 Mar
Balancing neuronal activity…
By newseditor
Posted 28 Mar
OSBP-mediated PI(4)P-choles…
By newseditor
Posted 28 Mar
Integrated plasma proteomic…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Mar
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar