The research team from Queen’s University Belfast has awarded for their work on the skin of frog and toad, which could escort to treatments for more than seventy major diseases. They have identified two proteins that may regulate, the way blood vessel grows.
The team discovered that a protein from the waxy monkey frog can restrain the growth of blood vessels and could be used to eliminate cancerous tumours. It was also discovered that the giant firebellied toad produces a protein which can stimulate blood vessel growth. The protein could help patients to recover from operation and injuries more rapidly.
According to lead author Professor Chris Shaw, the majority of cancer tumours can only grow to a certain size prior to they require blood vessels to grow into the tumour to supply it with vital oxygen and nutrients. To stop the blood vessels from growing will make the tumour less prone to spread and eventually kill it.
This has the potential to treat a group of diseases and conditions that require blood vessels to repair quickly the wound healing, organ transplants, diabetic ulcers, and damage occurred due to strokes or heart diseases. The aim of their study is to unlock the potential of the natural world, added Prof Shaw
In this case the secretions found on frog and toad skins are to be used to alleviate human suffering. They are totally convinced that the natural world holds the solutions for many of our problems, we just need to pose the right questions to find them, stated Prof Shaw.
Despite huge investments researchers have yet to develop a drug that can effectively target, control and regulate the growth of blood vessels. They want to encourage researchers to take their work to the next level, stated Professor Brian Walker and Dr Tianbao Chen, while commenting on the study.