American scientists (from Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and other institutions) have discovered a potential new method for treating Parkinson’s disease. The study, published in the journal Redox Biology, demonstrates that blocking 15-PGDH, an enzyme linked to the immune system, exerts a powerful neuroprotective effect.
Current therapies only alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease but cannot stop neurodegeneration—the process of brain cell death. Scientists discovered that levels of the 15-PGDH enzyme are abnormally high both in the brain tissue of deceased Parkinson’s patients and in laboratory models. Both genetic and pharmacological inhibition of this enzyme protected laboratory mice from neuroinflammation, cell death, and motor deficits.
The researchers emphasize that this approach directly targets the brain’s inflammatory response and oxidative stress, which damage cells. Interestingly, neuroprotection is achieved even in the presence of accumulating pathological proteins like alpha-synuclein (considered a primary trigger of Parkinson’s). This implies that the method can protect the brain from damage regardless of what initiates the disease itself.
Progress in this direction is further accelerated by the fact that one 15-PGDH inhibitor (MF-300) is already successfully undergoing Phase 1 clinical trials for other indications, demonstrating a positive bioavailability and safety profile. According to the scientists, this provides a strong rationale for repurposing existing medical agents, which will drastically reduce the time required to introduce this new Parkinson’s therapy into clinical practice.
