More Stem Cells Versus Parkinson's
A number of groups are working to engineer replacement neurons for those gradually destroyed by Parkinson's disease. Here's another, noted at EurekAlert!: the "team studied the development of [dopaminergic] neurons in animals to determine the important biological molecules in the brain that were necessary for the cells to grow and function efficiently. The scientists identified one particular molecule that seemed to be key, a protein called Wnt5a. They showed that when this molecule, together with a second protein called noggin, was included in cultures of stem cells, far more [dopaminergic] neurons were produced than when these ingredients were not present. ... they used neural stem cells - which are programmed to develop only into nerve cells. ... When the researchers transplanted the cells into laboratory animals whose substantia nigra region of the brain was damaged, the results were promising. ... We reversed almost completely the behavioural abnormalities, and neurons differentiated, survived and re-innervated the relevant part of the brain better. Furthermore we do not see the kind of proliferation of the cells that has occurred in the past and we get very little clustering."
Link: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/esf-scr011808.php