Open AccessImmature Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons Derived from Floor‐Plate Method Improve Cell Transplantation Therapy Efficacy for Parkinson's Disease
Author(s) -
Qiu Lifeng,
Liao MeiChih,
Chen Allen K.,
Wei Shunhui,
Xie Shaoping,
Reuveny Shaul,
Zhou Zhi Dong,
Hunziker Walter,
Tan Eng King,
Oh Steve K. W.,
Zeng Li
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
stem cells translational medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.781
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 2157-6580
pISSN - 2157-6564
DOI - 10.1002/sctm.16-0470
Subject(s) - cell therapy , dopaminergic , embryonic stem cell , transplantation , dopamine , progenitor cell , midbrain , parkinson's disease , neuroscience , cellular differentiation , stem cell , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , biology , disease , pathology , central nervous system , biochemistry , gene
Recent reports have indicated human embryonic stem cells‐derived midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons as proper cell resources for use in Parkinson's disease (PD) therapy. Nevertheless, no detailed and systematic study has been conducted to identify which differentiation stages of mDA cells are most suitable for transplantation in PD therapy. Here, we transplanted three types of mDA cells, DA progenitors (differentiated in vitro for 16 days [D16]), immature DA neurons (D25), and DA neurons (D35), into PD mice and found that all three types of cells showed high viability and strong neuronal differentiation in vivo. Both D25 and D35 cells showed neuronal maturation and differentiation toward TH + cells and, accordingly, satisfactory behavioral functional recovery. However, transplanted D16 cells were less capable of producing functional recovery. These findings provide a valuable guideline for standardizing the differentiation stage of the transplantable cells used in clinical cell therapy for PD. S tem C ells T ranslational M edicine 2017;6:1803–1814