 |
|
 |
|
|
Timeline 1993 Hopkins scientists advance excitotoxicity theory of ALS 1994 Hopkins scientists learn how SOD1 mutation causes cell injury. 1999 A cluster of scientists opens the Center for ALS Research 2001 First rat model of ALS developed, with Wyeth labs Mutant SOD1 kills neurons in fALS subtype Astrocytes implicated in ALS process First use of "doctored" stem cells to protect motor neurons (ALS models) Nervous system inflammation advances ALS (models) 2002 First ALS2 animal model developed Key discovery that bad cell environment advances motor neuron death Discovery that healthy glial cells protect against ALS ALS disrupts cells' internal movements First use of human embryonic stem cells to protect model rats from neurodegeneration. 2003 Neuron death begins well before ALS symptoms Motor neuron death begins at nerve endings in muscle First major screening of FDA- approved existing drugs yields ceftriaxone 2004 ALS4 mouse model created New technique developed to study motor neurons' neighbor cells Inflammation/microglia are key players in ALS process ES stem cell-derived motor neurons form whole, working circuits Antisense technique slows disease in animal fALS models Agent pleiotrophin enhances motor neuron regrowth VEGF greatly lengthens lifespan of ALS mice 2005 Dynactin mouse model of ALS created Zebrafish model of ALS created ALS spreads from within motor neurons to neighboring cells ALS appears to start early in motor neurons Mutant, toxic SOD1 protein kills motor neurons from outside cells. First massive screen for sporadic ALS genes begins 2006 Fine-tuning of glutamate receptor structure goes awry in ALS, making motor neurons hypersensitive Muscle involvement in ALS occurs earlier than suspected |
|