Pharmacologists have developed a way to treat a rare disease as Wolfram Syndrome

Wolfram Syndrome is a severe, degenerative, inherited disorder with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern and a progressive course. In childhood, the syndrome manifests itself in the form of diabetes, and in adolescence - in the form of loss of vision, deafness, mental disorders and urinary incontinence as well. The disease affects approximately one of 500,000 people worldwide.

In the course of a new study, scientists have managed to find out that Calcium (a signaling molecule) is a key factor in the development of this disease. They have found that when the protein of tungsten is destroyed in the cells of the pancreas, the functions of calcium channels are disrupted, as a result of which the transmission of nerve signals is disturbed. This leads to the decreased of pancreas cells viability and the reduced insulin secretion.

Studying the effectiveness of drugs to restore the conductivity of calcium channels, pharmacologists revealed 2 working substances that affect the activity of enzymes: ibudilast and calpain inhibitor. At the next stage, the scientists plan to continue animal trials.

SOURCE: MEDICAL XPRESS