NEW YORK, Nov 9, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Substances produced by the human body
may one day help prevent paralysis following a spinal cord injury, U.S.
researchers said.
Dr. Samie Jaffrey, associate professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical
College, said permanent nerve damage may be avoided by raising levels of a
compound that converts to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide -- NADplus -- the
active form of vitamin B-3.
The compound would potentially be administered immediately following spinal cord
injury, Jaffrey said.
"Boosting NADplus after injury may prevent permanent nerve death," Jaffrey said
in a statement. "Our study is aimed at synthesizing a molecule that, when given
soon after injury, may augment the body's production of NADplus and rescue these
cells before they are stressed beyond recovery."
NADplus is known to play a key role in human cells by activating proteins called
sirtuins that help the cells survive under stress, Jaffrey said.
Sirtuins, which can be activated by compounds like resveratrol -- found in large
concentrations in the skin of grapes used to make red wine and grape juice --
have been shown to possess anti-aging and healing properties. Jaffrey and
colleagues said quickly increasing the NADplus levels may help to activate the
sirtuin levels in the cells and prevent cell death.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International