Embryonic stem cells as a cell source for treating Parkinson's disease
Hitoshi Fukuda1, Jun Takahashi
1Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Abstract:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by a loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Transplantation of DA neurons represents a promising treatment for PD, and embryonic stem (ES) cells are a good candidate source for DA neurons. However, although recent reports have demonstrated that DA neurons can be efficiently induced from ES cells and function therapeutically in an animal model of PD, many problems remain to be solved in order for ES cells to be used for clinical applications. This review will describe the current status of this field and the obstacles yet to be overcome, and will outline future research approaches from the clinical perspective.
Related Concept Videos
EPS and iPS Cells in Disease Research
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Somatic...
iPS Cell Differentiation
Stem Cell Culture
Embryonic Stem Cells


