Cells must have the trash removed just like we do at our homes.

I research the cellular level of the body, looking for cause and effect relationships. Treat a cause and fix a problem. Treat a symptom and always treat that symptom. It appears that a process used to treat Parkinson’s might enhance the chances of success in treating cancer and other diseases.

Cellular Energy

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/key-pathway-in-parkinsons-may-help-treatments-for-cancer-diabetes. The mitochondria in our cells produce the energy needed for our bodies. One aspect of this process involves the protein, Parkin. This protein is responsible for the removal of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria. When damaged mitochondria are left in the cells, neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s, can develop over time.

Mitophagy

https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/7/15/eabg4544. The overall process for removal of non-functioning mitochondria is mitophagy. When Parkin is performing correctly, everything works well. There are over 50 proteins that must operate correctly to clean up cellular debris resulting from defective mitochondria.

The short story is that the enzyme AMPK (5’ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) activates the cells to reach out of grab blood glucose and fatty acids to maintain cellular energy in the cell. AMPK triggers ULK1 (serine/threonine-protein kinase) as part of the overall process called autophagy that cleans out damaged cells. ULK1 signals Parkin to begin mitophagy, which eventually eliminates the harmful material from a cell. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29462587/)

Use for Future Medical Treatments

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2018.00965/full. Parkin appears to be the master switch to make this process happen rapidly. When Parkin is not functioning correctly, the process happens more slowly or does not happen at all. Build up of damaged components in a cell leads to various diseases.

Scientists believe that Parkin should be the core emphasis for their research to reduce or eliminate the genesis of diseases resultant from cells holding on to malfunctioning components. Diseases are prevented when cellular health is maintained.

Concentrating on the AMPK – ULK1 – Parkin biochemical pathway can lead to drugs that initiate the mitophagy process that begins the trash removal from cells. A diabetes drug activates AMPK. The link researchers are investigating is the linkage between ULK1 and Parkin. Once Parkin is activated, the process appears to happen without further disruption.

Conclusion

It took researchers a long time to discover what happens when over 50 biochemical reactions are involved. Cellular dysfunction is responsible for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and more. Even normal aging is a result of cellular health.

Is this going to happen overnight? No! It will take time, but there is light at the end of the tunnel because scientists know what they are looking for now that had evaded them for years.

Here is a good link to how Parkin is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease – https://scienceofparkinsons.com/2020/05/04/icp-parkin/

Live Longer & Enjoy Life! – Red O’Laughlin – RedOLaughlin.com

 

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