Publications by authors named "Mackenzie J Thurston"
Article Synopsis
- * A Phase 1b study involving five Parkinson's patients found that a reduced dosage of 3 μg/kg/day was safer and better tolerated than a higher dose, with positive effects on immune function and a decrease in adverse events.
- * Long-term treatment at the lower dose maintained stable Movement Disorder Society-United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores, indicating treatment effectiveness; however, further studies with more participants are necessary to confirm these findings.
Article Synopsis
- Restoring regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a promising approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, showing potential to reduce inflammation and protect neurons.* -
- A novel lipid nanoparticle (LNP) that delivers mRNA for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (Gm-csf) has been tested in animal models, leading to increased Treg levels and enhanced neuroprotection.* -
- Results indicated that Gm-csf mRNA treatment not only boosted Treg populations but also reduced neuroinflammation in mice and rats, highlighting its potential for broader applications in neurodegenerative disorders.*
Article Synopsis
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, neuroinflammation, and immune dysfunction, highlighting the need for effective treatments.
- Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) shows promise in treating PD, but its short duration in the body requires development of longer-acting alternatives.
- A new long-acting mouse version of GM-CSF, named mPDM608, demonstrated enhanced anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, suggesting it might be a more effective treatment option for Parkinson's disease compared to existing treatments.
Article Synopsis
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is becoming more common, creating a need for effective treatments that address its symptoms and progression.
- Traditional methods like stem cell replacement and alpha-synuclein clearance have not proven effective long-term, prompting researchers to explore ways to modify the brain's immune environment.
- Focusing on enhancing regulatory T cells, which help reduce inflammation, shows potential for improving outcomes not just in PD but in other neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, strokes, and brain injuries.
Background: Gray matter (GM) atrophy in brain is one of the best predictors of long-term disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), and recent findings have revealed that localized GM atrophy is associated with clinical disabilities. GM atrophy associated with each disability mapped to a distinct brain region, revealing a disability-specific atlas (DSA) of GM loss.
Objective: To uncover the mechanisms underlying the development of localized GM atrophy.