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Stem cells in development of therapeutics for Parkinson's disease: A perspective
Author(s) -
Xi Jiajie,
Zhang SuChun
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.21916
Subject(s) - neuroscience , stem cell , disease , progenitor cell , parkinson's disease , biology , regeneration (biology) , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , pathology
Using Parkinson's disease as a prototype of neurodegenerative diseases, we propose applications of human stem cells in the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. First, in vitro differentiation of human stem cells offers a versatile model for dissecting molecular interactions underlying human dopamine (DA) neuron specification, which may form a foundation for instigating regeneration of DA neurons from progenitors that reside in the brain. Second, stem cells derived from diseased cells or through genetic modification can serve as a platform for unraveling biochemical processes that lead to the cellular pathogenesis of degeneration. This may in turn serve as a template for identifying or developing therapeutics for slowing, stopping, or reversing the disease process. And finally, stem cells, particularly those induced from patients' own cells, provide a reliable source of DA neurons for cell‐based therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1153–1160, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.