By Mayo Clinic’s Discovery’s Edge
Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have identified a protein expressed by immune cells that may play a key role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The team also found that an immunomodulatory treatment that blocks the protein was able to restore motor function in preclinical models. The findings suggest that the protein, known as α5 integrin (pronounced alpha 5 integrin), is a potential therapeutic target for ALS.