Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons Rescue Motor Defects in Parkinsonian Monkeys

Link can be found here.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine.  Symptoms include shaking and trouble with movement. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, so research on Parkinson’s disease is essential.

A research center in Japan is experimenting with a way to coax stem cells into becoming dopamine producing neurons. A recent study involved extracting bone marrow from monkeys. The cells extracted were treated with growth factors which caused them to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons. The monkeys were given a chemical to induce Parkinson’s, and then their own stem cells (which are now dopaminergic neurons) were transplanted into their brains. The monkeys who received the transplant had improved motor function.

This study is significant because it shows that adult stem cells can be coaxed to differentiate into dopaminergic neurons, and that these neurons can have a positive effect on motor function. However, further testing is still needed to see if this method would have the same effects on humans.