Trials display security of stem cell remedy for Parkinson’s

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Two impartial medical trials display the security of stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s illness. The papers, revealed in Nature, examine using cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and human embryonic stem cells, respectively.

Parkinson’s illness is a neurodegenerative illness characterised by the progressive lack of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Cell remedy, particularly replenishing dopamine-producing neurons (dopaminergic) within the mind, may present a doubtlessly simpler remedy with fewer opposed results.

To look at the security and potential negative effects of cell remedy for Parkinson’s illness, researchers at Kyoto College, Japan performed a part I/II trial. Seven sufferers obtained transplantation of dopaminergic progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells into each side of the mind. No critical opposed occasions had been reported, and the transplanted cells produced dopamine with out overgrowth or forming tumours. The researchers additionally noticed a lower in motor signs related to Parkinson’s illness (a secondary end result of the research) in 4 of the six individuals who continued the trial to efficacy analysis whereas not taking their customary remedy, and in 5 whereas taking remedy. Nonetheless, these outcomes different based on the measures used, with some measures displaying minimal adjustments.

In a separate part I medical trial, researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Most cancers Heart, New York, explored the security of a dopaminergic neuron progenitor cell product (bemdaneprocel) derived from human embryonic stem cells. Twelve sufferers obtained surgical transplantation of bemdaneprocel to the putamen on each side of the mind. 5 individuals obtained a low dose and 7 obtained a excessive dose. There have been no extreme opposed occasions associated to the remedy throughout 18 months of follow-up. Some enchancment in motor operate (a secondary end result of the research) was noticed in sufferers in each the low-dose and high-dose cohorts. Nonetheless, the diploma of enchancment different throughout totally different measured parameters.