Therapeutic Application of Stem Cell Technology toward the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the candidate diseases for cell transplantation therapy, since successful clinical experiments have accumulated using human fetal tissue grafting for PD patients. Although some grafted PD patients have shown drastic improvements, several issues still remain with regard to using human fetal tissue. This review highlights the recent advances in stem cell technology toward clinical applications using human pluripotent stem cells. In particular, pluripotent stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), are the focus as a source of cell transplantation therapy that can be used instead of human fetal tissues. Additionally, efficient methods for stem cell maintenance and differentiation have been developed and improved toward the clinical transition. These advances in the basic technologies have helped accelerate the realization of regenerative medicine. We also review the current topics regarding disease modeling and drug screening using iPSC technology. Finally, we also describe the future prospects of these stem cell research fields toward clinical application.

Parkinson’s Disease: Insights from Drosophila Model

“…Pharmacotherapies include adenosine A2A receptor antagonists [196], glutamate AMPA receptor antagonists [197], monoamine oxidase inhibitors [198], anti-apoptotic agents [199], and antioxidants [200]. Non-pharmacotherapies also offer alternative approaches for treatment of the disease which include the use of viral vector gene therapy [201], stem cell transplants [202], and microRNAs [203]. Nevertheless, additional trials enrolling larger numbers of PD patients are still needed to better understand the neuroprotective effects of these therapies.…”

Stem cells in neurology - current perspectives

“…In addition to the selected treatment, the basic criteria that must be met prior to starting a new clinical trial include the following: developing further in vitro assays, transplanting contaminant-free cells derived from animal cells, recruiting the appropriate patients, and determining regulatory standards. Stem cell transplantation is a promising choice for the treatment of neurological diseases, and gaining a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and the neurorestorative capacity of these cells is essential for the future of cell transplantation, cultivation and expansion 26 . According to Lindvall and Kokaia, investigators should focus on 3 main tasks: 1) generate large numbers of dopaminergic neurons or neuroblasts in standardized preparations; 2) improve graft efficacy, and 3) minimize the risk of tumor formation and off-medication dyskinesias to start new clinical trials 27 .…”

Histological study on the possible therapeutic role of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells in a model of Schistosoma mansoni infestation of spleen of mice

“…Stem cell therapy is a kind of intervention strategy that introduces new cells into damaged tissues, which help in treating many diseases and injuries [9] . It has been proved that stem cell therapy is effective for the treatment of cancers [10] , diabetes mellitus [11] , Parkinson's disease [12] , cardiovascular diseases [13] , and neurological disorders [14] . Recently, stem cell therapy has been introduced to treat parasitic infestation in animal models, and satisfactory outcomes are achieved [15] .…”