Botox Injections’ Ability to Breach Brain Cells and Cause Paralysis Revealed

Researchers have successfully decoded the process by which injections of the Botox drug, mainly utilized for wrinkle reduction and combating the effects of aging, can infiltrate brain cells, resulting in paralysis or potentially fatal consequences.

Originally created to address strabismus, an eye condition, the injectable medication Botox swiftly demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving symptoms of chronic pain, migraines and spasticity disorders.

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‘The Botulinum neurotoxins utilized in Botox are potent substances generated by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, known for their highly poisonous nature. These toxins interfere with neuronal communication, resulting in muscle paralysis. #Botox #Skincare #Paralysis’

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Currently, it's regularly used in plastic surgeries and is commonly known as a cosmetic treatment to smooth wrinkles.

The Botulinum neurotoxins used in Botox are a highly poisonous substance produced by bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. The toxin disrupts communication between neurons, leading to muscle paralysis.

While in small, this therapeutic doses can ease muscle spasms, treat migraines or, reduce wrinkles, high doses can cause botulism -- a potentially fatal disease with few treatments.

How does Botulinum Neurotoxin Type-A Enter Neurons?

Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) discovered the specific molecular mechanism by which the highly deadly Botulinum Neurotoxin type-A, enters neurons.

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"We used super-resolution microscopy to show that a receptor called Synaptotagmin 1 binds to two other previously known Clostridial Neurotoxin receptors to form a tiny complex that sits on the plasma membrane of neurons," said Professor Frederic Meunier at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute. "The toxin hijacks this complex and enters the synaptic vesicles which store neurotransmitters critical to communication between neurons. "Botox then interrupts the communication between nerves and muscle cells, causing paralysis."

The research, published in The EMBO Journal, can help block interactions between any two of the three receptors to stop the deadly toxins from getting into neurons, Meunier said ().

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Dr. Merja Joensuu from the Institute said that how the neurotoxin worked to relax muscles has previously been difficult to track.

"Clostridial neurotoxins are among the most potent protein toxins known to humans," Dr. Joensuu said.

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"We now have a full picture of how these toxins are internalised to intoxicate neurons at therapeutically relevant concentrations," she added.

Reference:

Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG-Syt1-SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry - (https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/embj.2022112095)

Source - IANS