The Akt Pathway in ALS

The serine-threonine kinase Akt plays an important role in survival pathways by inactivating downstream apoptogenic factors in many cell systems, including neurons. The PI3K/Akt pathway has a protective role under oxidative stress and inflammation.

Immunity Pharma's peptides modulate PI3K-Akt dependent signaling, which is responsible for antiapoptotic (thus cell protective) and anti-inflammatory mechanisms as well as balanced cell metabolism. Akt pathway is under-activated in neurons, muscles and immune cells of ALS patients as well as in ALS mouse model even at pre-symptomatic stage. Akt activity is reduced in line with disease progression.  Therefore, activating Akt pathway in the CNS, as well as in muscles immune cells is attractive approach for ALS therapy. Apparently, in ALS patients there is no shortage of growth factors that normally activate this signaling pathway. One of the main reasons for lower Akt activation results from cell receptor malfunction.  Akt targeted therapy should bypass those receptors.

IPL's peptides activate Akt specifically and restore the Akt-dependent, protective mechanisms under disease conditions when the signaling transfer is insufficient.

Similar conditions of neuro-inflammation and cell-death exist in other neuro-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Thus, it is possible that IPL’s peptides may also be able to induce therapeutic effects for patients suffering from these diseases.