By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

Scientists have been able to ease the symptoms of conditions similar to Down Syndrome in unborn mice with an injection of two particular proteins that are typically lacking in Down patients.

The research was conducted by a team of scientists headed by Dr. Catherine Spong at the National Institutes of Health and was published in the latest issue of New Scientist. According to their report, researchers developed an injection based on two proteins that help brains to grow normally, proteins that people afflicted with Down Syndrome make fewer of than normal.

Next, the researchers genetically engineered mice pups to have a condition similar to Down’s, then injected the proteins into the pups while still in the womb. When the pups were born, they were found to have normal levels of one of the proteins and of a second compound key to brain health.

Researchers are now waiting to see if the benefits of the injection are long lasting.

Charles Cantor, of the company Sequenom in San Diego, California, which is developing a non-invasive prenatal blood-screening test for Down’s told the London Daily Mail: ‘I’d love to see these early screening tests lead to therapy and not just termination. It would have a big impact, especially for families that are not willing to consider abortion as an option.”

According to the National Down Syndrome Society, Down Syndrome occurs in one out of every 700 births in the U.S. but pre-natal screening has resulted in almost 80 percent of these children’s lives being terminated before birth.

However, modern scientific advances have enabled people with Down Syndrome to live longer, fuller lives. For instance, in the 1950s, few people with Down’s lived past the age of 15. Today, increased knowledge of the condition has led to higher standards of care and treatment that are enabling people with Down’s to live up to 60 or 65 years.
 
Carol Boys, chief executive of the Down’s Syndrome Association, said, “We welcome research that may have a positive impact on people with Down’s syndrome. However, it must be recognized that this research doesn’t herald a ‘cure’ or ‘treatment’ for Down’s syndrome. We’ll be following how it develops with great interest.”

Scientists are cautiously optimistic about the new research, but warn that what works in mice doesn’t always work in people.

Any tests on humans are still years away.

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