Diagnostics
Background
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease caused by the loss of motor neurons, which leads to muscle wasting. However, the severity and rate of muscle loss vary between patients, and the reasons for this difference are not fully understood.
Research
FutureNeuro researchers discovered that higher levels of angiogenin, a protein involved in blood vessel growth, are linked to slower disease progression in ALS. Their study showed that angiogenin supports muscle regeneration and increases vascularization—the formation of new blood vessels—by promoting communication between muscle stem cells and endothelial cells. This protective effect may help preserve muscle function and delay muscle wasting in ALS.
Potential Impact
Angiogenin and the small RNA fragments it produces, known as tiRNAs, could serve as important biomarkers to predict disease progression in ALS patients. These molecules also represent promising targets for developing new therapies aimed at enhancing muscle regeneration and slowing disease progression. Future work will explore angiogenin-based treatments with the goal of improving quality of life for people living with ALS.
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