Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a rather unique condition where a person feels an obscure, but powerful, need to move their legs. Our expertise in RLS allows us to provide custom solutions and comprehensive guidance to aid your research from its therapy development phase through to the commercialization of the therapy.
Introduction to RLS
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition where a person suffering from it feels a complex and overwhelming desire to move the legs, often accompanied by some strange and uncomfortable sensations. Its syndrome is felt most during periods of inactivity or rest usually in the evenings and even at night. This results in poor sleep and quality of life in general for those affected.
Most epidemiological studies on RLS reveal that this disease affects between 5-15% of the population. Another 2.5% of adult population seem to suffer from it at a level where they need the help of a medical professional. In addition, females are approximately two times more likely than males to be sufferers of this condition.
Fig. 1 Link between the MEIS1 gene and restless legs syndrome. (Sarayloo, Faezeh, et al., 2019)Pathogenesis of RLS
While the definitive etiology of RLS is not known, factors which may underlie the condition have been identified through research.
Dopamine Imbalance
The deficit in dopamine production or the decreased activity of the dopamine receptor may disturb the normal regulation of movement, which is what gives rise the symptoms of RLS.
Genetic Factors
Restless legs syndrome can be familial in terms of vertical inheritance. Some RLS variants may be present which make some people more likely to develop RLS.
Other Risk Factors
Iron deficiency and anemia, pregnancy, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and peripheral vascular disease are also risk factors for secondary RLS.
Therapeutics Development of RLS
The effective treatment of RLS will be achieved through the identification of the prepared targets which are involved in the development of this disease.
Dopamine System
One of the major areas for management of RLS is the dopamine system, and in particular the dopamine receptors in the basal ganglia. All drugs that are used in RLS, such as pramipexole and ropinirole, are dopamine agonists and have been the most widely used in RLS. These medications boost dopamine levels or help in non-specifically treating symptoms of RLS by substituting dopamine in place of DOPAC target area which relieves the symptoms RLS occurs.
Iron Metabolism Pathway
Another good area includes the iron deficiency metabolic pathways. The low level of iron is a very common comorbidity of RLS. Iron supplementation does alleviate symptoms, especially in those who suffer from iron deficiency. Supplements that replace depleted iron improve activity dependent processes in the brain for RLS leading to reduction in symptoms.
Our Services
Our company has established a comprehensive platform for developing rare disease diagnostics and therapies, encompassing small molecule drug, cell therapy, gene therapy, therapeutic antibody, therapeutic peptide, and therapeutic protein. Through our dedicated platforms, we are fully devoted to advancing the development of innovative diagnostic tools and therapies for RLS.
Our firm has constructed an all-inclusive platform for the diagnostics and therapy development of rare diseases which includes small molecule drug, cell therapy, gene therapy, therapeutic antibody, therapeutic peptide, and therapeutic protein. Through our platform, we are committed to providing the development of comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic tools for RLS.
Animal Models of RLS
| Induced Animal Models | |||
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| Sleep deprivation and chronic iron deficiency are commonly used in animal models to induce symptoms similar to RLS. Sleep deprivation models involve restricting or fragmenting sleep of animals. Chronic iron deficiency models reproduce the sensory and motor abnormalities observed in RLS individuals by manipulating iron levels in animals. | |||
| Genetically Engineered Models | |||
| Our scientists create genetically engineered models of RLS by manipulating specific genes or genetic pathways. These models effectively reproduce the sensory abnormalities and motor dysfunction observed in individuals with RLS. | |||
| Optional Models |
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| Optional Species | Mice, Zebrafish, Rats, Fruit Flies, Caenorhabditis Elegans, Others | ||
Understanding the importance of animal disease models in the therapy development for RLS, we provide consultancy service in the development of animal models for RLS. These models can aid in the safety evaluation and pharmacokinetics study of your drug candidates.
Whatever your stage of research is, we provide tailored research services for your requirements. If you are interested in our services, please don't hesitate to contact us for more information and a detailed quotation regarding the specific services you require.
References
- Sarayloo, Faezeh, Patrick A. Dion, and Guy A. Rouleau. "MEIS1 and restless legs syndrome: a comprehensive review." Frontiers in neurology 10 (2019): 474394.
- Allen, Richard P., et al. "Animal models of RLS phenotypes." Sleep medicine 31 (2017): 23-28.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.