Some new research involving gene therapy in a mouse model shows promise for treating a group of disorders called ciliopathies which are dysfunctions of the cilia. Most psychologists are familiar with cilia from the role they play in hearing, seeing, and smell. The new research focuses on how to repair the cilia in mice that have genetically disabled olfactory cilia, that is, mice who are born without a sense of smell. If such gene therapy is effective in humans, then a number of ciliopathies might be cured or significantly improved.
The popular media has picked up on the story and here is one example of their presentation: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19409154 A pop science presentation on the Science Daily website is available here (it provides much more detail and additional links): http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120902143147.htm Some of the researchers involved in the study are at the University of Michigan and the U of M media office provided this press release: http://www.uofmhealth.org/news/archive/201209/smell The original research is published in Nature Medicine: http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.2860.html The reference for the article is: Jeremy C McIntyre, Erica E Davis, Ariell Joiner, Corey L Williams, I-Chun Tsai, Paul M Jenkins, Dyke P McEwen, Lian Zhang, John Escobado, Sophie Thomas, Katarzyna Szymanska, Colin A Johnson, Philip L Beales, Eric D Green, James C Mullikin, NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Aniko Sabo, Donna M Muzny, Richard A Gibbs, Tania Attié-Bitach, Bradley K Yoder, Randall R Reed, Nicholas Katsanis, Jeffrey R Martens. (2012). Gene therapy rescues cilia defects and restores olfactory function in a mammalian ciliopathy model. Nature Medicine, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nm.2860 I suspect that if this research is successful in humans, then olfactory abilities lost to toxins and age might be successfully treated. It may be particularly useful in the elderly who have developed a diminished sense of smell. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] P.S. One point for the person who can guess which movie the subject line is from. ;-) --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=20179 or send a blank email to leave-20179-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
