Grow-your-own stem cells may repair Parkinson’s damage
A new stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease is one step closer to human trials after scientists were able to successfully rebuild neural damage in an animal model.
Researchers from Scripps Research and Cardiff University used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from skin cells of two people with Parkinson’s disease to grow young neurons, which were then transplanted into rats with the degenerative condition. By timing the growth of the new cells just right, they’re able to replace the damaged neurons and potentially reverse the physical impairments that come with the neural damage.
While there are current stem cell clinical studies underway, this is the first one to make use of autologous therapy, which means the cells are harvested from the person who will ultimately receive the transplant.
While there’s no cure yet for Parkinson’s disease, effective neural therapy would be able to intervene in its progression and even reverse existing damage. Worldwide, around 10 million people are living with the disease.
"Knowledge of which genes are turned on in neuronal precursors that are in the optimal developmental state to treat Parkinson's can help researchers screen cells before transplanting them into patients," Loring said. "The gene expression analysis should greatly improve the probability of successful transplants.”
Using the versatile 'universal' iPSCs, which have a broad range of cell differentiation potential, researchers believe this therapy could also inform new treatments for Huntington’s disease, heart failure and age-related macular degeneration.
https://newatlas.com/medical/stem-cells-neurons-parkinsons-disease/
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