Ben-Gurion U. study highlights gene that could lead to therapies for ALS

(American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) For the first time, this study reported that 'endogenous multifunctional protein macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF),' a gene that regulates cell inflammation and immunity, acts as a chaperone for misfolded SOD1 in a mouse model. The researchers demonstrated that completely eliminating MIF in a mutant SOD1 mouse model of familial ALS increased misfolded SOD1 accumulation. This also accelerated disease onset and late disease progr...