TGFβ on the brain

Against a checkered past of TGFβ signaling in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease, a Stanford University team has provided new evidence that stimulating the pathway holds promise in the indication. Stanford and SRI International have made a small molecule activator of the pathway and are looking for a partner to help develop it in PD and other neurological indications.

In vitro and in vivo studies of the role of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signaling in PD have produced contradictory results. While TGFβ ligands protected dopaminergic neurons in cell culture models of the disease, intracranial administration or overexpression in animal models has either been ineffective or worsened neuronal loss...