ABSTRACT
Cell transplantation is an experimental therapy for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other
movement disorders. Several open-label research trials have shown clinically meaningful
improvement in parkinsonian signs and symptoms after striatal transplantation of allogeneic
fetal ventral mesencephalic (FVM) tissue. However, ethical concerns, variability in
surgical techniques, and reports of unusual late complications in a few patients in
a clinical trial have limited the use of allogeneic FVM tissue to a few research centers.
Research into alternative cell sources such as porcine FVM and allogeneic retinal
pigment epithelial cells has shown promising results in preclinical trials, and they
are currently being tested in clinical trials. Novel strategies to improve cell survival
and to avoid immune rejection of transplants show promising results in preclinical
trials. This article focuses on these recent advances and compares the potential clinical
utility of these emerging cell therapies for the treatment of advanced PD.
KEYWORD
Brain - central nervous system - clinical trials - animal models - neural transplantation
- MPTP