Two unbiased medical trials demonstrate the safety of stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s illness. The papers, revealed in Nature, examine the use of 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 loss of neurons that produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Cell remedy, particularly replenishing dopamine-producing neurons (dopaminergic) within the mind, might present a doubtlessly more practical therapy with fewer opposed results.
To look at the safety and potential negative effects of cell remedy for Parkinson’s illness, researchers at Kyoto University, Japan performed a section I/II trial. Seven sufferers acquired transplantation of dopaminergic progenitors derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells into either side of the mind. No severe opposed occasions have 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 final result of the examine) in 4 of the six contributors who continued the trial to efficacy analysis whereas not taking their normal treatment, and in 5 whereas taking treatment. However, these outcomes diversified in response to the measures used, with some measures exhibiting minimal adjustments.
In a separate section I medical trial, researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, explored the safety of a dopaminergic neuron progenitor cell product (bemdaneprocel) derived from human embryonic stem cells. Twelve sufferers acquired surgical transplantation of bemdaneprocel to the putamen on either side of the mind. Five contributors acquired a low dose and 7 acquired 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 final result of the examine) was noticed in sufferers in each the low-dose and high-dose cohorts. However, the diploma of enchancment diversified throughout totally different measured parameters.
Published – April 20, 2025 12:00 am IST
