Biologists from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) in Germany have explored how to protect neurons that control movements from dying off. In the journal Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, the scientists report that the molecule 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, also known as vitamin P, ensures the survival of motor neurons in culture. It sends the survival signal on another path than the molecule brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which was previously considered a candidate for the treatment of motor neuron diseases or after spinal cord damage. "The brain-derived neurotrophic factor only had a limited effect when tested on humans, and even had partially negative consequences," says Professor Stefan Wiese from the RUB Work Group for Molecular Cell Biology.. "Therefore we are looking for alternative ways to find new approaches for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)." ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In previous studies, researchers hypothesized that vitamin P is an analogue of BDNF and thus works in the same way. This theory has been disproved in the current work by the team led by Dr. Teresa Tsai and Professor Stefan Wiese, from the RUB Group for Molecular Cell Biology and the Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology headed by Professor Andreas Faissner. Both substances ensure that isolated motor neurons of the mouse survive in cell culture and grow new processes, but what exactly the molecules trigger at the protein level varies. BDNF activates two signaling pathways, the so-called MAP kinase and PI3K/AKT signal paths. Vitamin P, on the other hand, activates only the PI3K/AKT signal path. However, vitamin P only exerted its positive effects on the motor neurons in a very small concentration range.Login Or Register To Read Full Story