Possible new therapeutic approach to curing neurodegenerative diseases

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable disease of the motor neurones that usually leads to death within two to five years. There is currently no successful therapy.

Thomas Herrmannsdörfer, Head of Department at the High Field Magnetic Laboratory Dresden (HLD) at the HZDR, works closely with medical scientist Prof Richard Funk. Together with colleagues from the universities of Dresden and Rostock, they have put together a research team from the fields of physics, medicine, biology and biotechnology to investigate the therapeutic effect of magnetic fields on dysfunctional motor neurones. In addition to the HLD, the HZDR's Centre for Radiopharmaceutical Tumour Research (ZRT) was also involved in the project.

In a first step, cell biologists reprogrammed skin cells from both healthy individuals and ALS patients into motor neurons. Motor neurons have up to one metre long extensions (axons), which are used to transport substances and transmit information. In a further step, researchers led by Dr Arun Pal (HZDR) exposed the motor neurons prepared in this way to magnetic fields of different strengths in Petri dishes over different periods of time. Other parameters of the magnetic fields such as frequency, orientation and waveform were also varied. „In the numerous series of experiments, we were able to show that the motor neurons of ALS patients respond to the magnetic fields“, Pal summarises the results. „The axonal transport of mitochondria, which are the power plants of the cell, and other organelles, which is impaired in ALS cells, is reactivated by stimulation with magnetic fields. In addition, axonal regeneration - i.e. the ability to grow and network again - can be restored.“ The research was carried out using live cell imaging and cell biology methods. At the same time, the team was able to show that healthy cells are not damaged by the stimulation.

For Herrmannsdörfer and his team, the present results are a milestone, but he nevertheless puts them into perspective: "We see these in vitro results as an encouraging approach on the way to a possible therapy for ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, we also know that detailed follow-up studies are needed to substantiate our findings.“

In a next step, the scientists are now planning long-term and in vivo studies to further expand the therapeutic potential of magnetic field treatments. These include investigating the optimal technical parameters of the applied magnetic field. In addition, they want to deepen their understanding of the cellular response to the various magnetic stimuli and thus better understand the underlying mechanisms. They will also investigate how cell changes in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's disease and Alzheimer's react to stimulation with magnetic fields. In the long term, the scientists are planning clinical pilot studies with special devices for magnetic stimulation.

The research project is now running under the name „ThaXonian“ - Magnetic Axon Therapy. The pioneers include:

1. Idea, concept and project management: Richard Funk (TU Dresden) and Thomas Herrmannsdörfer (HZDR)
2. Stem cell technology, skin cell reprogramming, establishment of neuronal cell lines: Andreas Hermann (University of Rostock)
3. Cellular assay development including video analysis: Team around Andreas Hermann (University of Rostock) and Arun Pal (HZDR)
4. Magnetic field technology and coil construction: Thomas Herrmannsdörfer with HLD team at HZDR
5. Cellular assays in the magnetic field: Arun Pal, Wonphorn Kandhavivorn, Thomas Herrmannsdörfer and HLD team at HZDR as well as Jens Pietzsch and ZRT team at HZDR

Article from "idw - Informationsdienst Wissenschaft" from 12 June 2023