Models of repair mechanisms for future treatment modalities of Parkinson's disease

Brain Res Bull. 2002 Apr;57(6):839-46. doi: 10.1016/s0361-9230(01)00773-0.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease is one of the most likely neurological disorders to be fully treatable by drugs and new therapeutic modalities. The age-dependent and multifactorial nature of its pathogenesis allows for many strategies of intervention and repair. Most data indicate that the selectively vulnerable dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of patients that have developed Parkinson's disease can be modified by protective and reparative therapies. First, the oxidative stress, protein abnormalities, and cellular inclusions typically seen could be dealt with by anti-oxidants, trophic factors, and proteolytic enhancements. Secondly, if the delay of degeneration is not sufficient, then immature dopamine neurons can be placed in the parkinsonian brain by transplantation. Such neurons can be derived from stem cell sources or even stimulated to repair from endogenous stem cells. Novel molecular and cellular treatments provide new tools to prevent and alleviate Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Brain / surgery*
  • Brain Tissue Transplantation / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Brain Tissue Transplantation / methods
  • Brain Tissue Transplantation / trends*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Therapy / trends
  • Humans
  • Nerve Growth Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Nerve Regeneration / drug effects
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology
  • Parkinson Disease / therapy*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / drug effects
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors