UC Irvine Study Shows Efficacy of Cancer Drugs For Brain Inflammation
By Cyndi Root
UC Irvine investigators announced in a press release that a class of cancer drugs may block or eliminate neural inflammation associated with dementia. CSF1R inhibitor drugs treat cancer, tumors, and immune-related conditions and now have possibilities for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as other dementia-linked diseases and brain injuries. The study, published in the Neuron journal, received support from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke. Kim Green,
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior said, “This study presents a new way to not just modulate inflammation in the brain but eliminate it completely, making this a breakthrough option for a range of neuro-inflammatory diseases.”
CSF1R Inhibitors
CSF1R inhibitors are used in investigational studies on the immune system and cancer. The UC Irvine group evaluated CSR1R inhibitors and found that PLX3397 was the most effective. Manufactured by Plexxikon, PLX3397 is undergoing Phase I and II trials in leukemia, prostate cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and glioblastoma.
The new study titled, “Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor Signaling Is Necessary for Microglia Viability, Unmasking a Microglia Progenitor Cell in the Adult Brain,” evaluated CSF1R action against microglia, the primary immune cells of the brain.
Active in many neural diseases including brain injuries, microglia cells damage or kill neurons. In mouse studies, investigators found that CSF1R inhibitors removed almost all microglia cells, without damaging cognition or behavior.
The drugs eradicated the microglia but the elimination only lasted for the duration of the treatment. Treatment withdrawal caused rapid repopulation of microglia cells from nestin-expressing progenitor cells. The finding is the first, according to Green, of a new method of neurogenesis and an opportunity to manipulate microglial cells for other applications.
About Plexxikon and UC Irvine
Part of the Daiichi Sankyo Group, Plexxikon’s focus is on discovery and early development of drugs that have multiple possible applications. Working with UC Irvine on PLX3397 is part of its strategy to work with leading researchers and clinical specialists to enhance the drug’s development. The University of California, Irvine is located in Orange County. It is known for research and innovation and has produced three Nobel laureates.