Studying neurodegenerative diseases in culture models

Neurodegenerative diseases are pathological conditions that have an insidious onset and chronic progression. Different models have been established to study these diseases in order to understand their underlying mechanisms and to investigate new therapeutic strategies. Although various in vivo models are currently in use, in vitro models might provide important insights about the pathogenesis of these disorders and represent an interesting approach for the screening of potential pharmacological agents. In the present review, we discuss various in vitro and ex vivo models of neurodegenerative disorders in mammalian cells and tissues.

Huntington disease [Chorea] in the Middle East

Huntington disease [HD] has been reported in Arab families in several Middle East countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt and in non-Arab populations in other countries in the region. It is probably under-reported, and until now, has not been recorded in Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan or in Iraq. The Middle East has always been on the crossroads of trade and travel, and HD was probably introduced to some of these countries in previous times. The prevalence rate in Middle Eastern Arabs is estimated to vary from 3 to 4 per 100,000. Although the HD gene which codes for the protein huntingtin has been identified, the function of this protein is not known. At present, no treatment has been found to delay the onset of HD or to treat it effectively. Although relatively rare, HD has increasingly become a focus of international gene research, with the support and collaboration of the International Huntington Association [IHA]. The IHA has been represented in Saudi Arabia and Oman

Aspectos etiopatogênicos da Doença de Huntington / Etiopathogenic aspects of Huntington's disease

A doença de Huntington (DH) é um distúrbio hereditário autossômico dominante, que está relacionado à expansão das repetições de CAG (citosina-adenina-guanina) no braço curto do cromossomo 4, o que leva à formação de uma proteína mutante associada, principalmente, à destruição neuronal do estriado. Manifesta-se por transtornos motores, cognitivos e neuropsicológicos, evoluindo progressivamente para estado demencial grave. A patogênese da doença ainda apresenta pontos obscuros. No entanto, recentes investigações têm possibilitado maior entendimento de sua origem e evolução, assim como de outras doenças neurodegenerativas

Huntington's disease is a hereditary autosomal dominant disorder which occurs due to the expansion of the repetitions CAG on the short arm of chromosome 4, which leads to the formation of a mutant protein itself associated principally to the destruction of neuronal of the striated tissue. It manifests through motor, cognitive and neuropsychological disorders where it evolves progressively to a serious demential state. The pathogenesis of this disease still presents obscure points although recent investigations made it possible to understand it better in its origin and evolution, the same as with other neurodegenerative diseases

Coreoatetosis hereditaria con automutilaciones e hiperuricemia: síndrome de Lesch-Nyhan / Hereditary coreoathetotic disease with self-mutilations and hyperuricaemia: Lesch-Nyhan syndrome

Esta curiosa enfermedad, descrita en 1964, tiene una baja incidencia (1 en 100.000 a 1 en 380.000 personas-año). No tiene prevalencia geográfica ni étnica. Aunque al nacer el niño parece normal, la sintomatología aparece en los primeros meses de vida. Se produce un retardo del desarrollo psicomotor con una sorprendente compulsión a automutilarse especialmente los labios, lengua y mejillas. Puede también golpearse los dedos, manos o la cabeza con una conducta autoagresiva. Además hay habitualmente movimientos coreoatetósicos y espasticidad. La mayoría logra caminar pero, con el avance de la enfermedad, quedan inválidos. Se retrasa la adquisición del lenguaje y hay disartria permanente