Title:Advancements in Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Parkinson’s Disease
Volume: 19
Issue: 10
Author(s): Jia-Xin Shi and Ke-Zhong Zhang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Keywords:
Autologous stem cell, Parkinson’s disease, iPSC, MSC, neurodegenerative disease, DBS.
Abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease marked by comparatively
focal dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra of the midbrain and dopamine loss in the
striatum, which causes motor and non-motor symptoms. Currently, pharmacological therapy and deep
brain stimulation (DBS) are the primary treatment modalities for PD in clinical practice. While these approaches
offer temporary symptom control, they do not address the underlying neurodegenerative process,
and complications often arise. Stem cell replacement therapy is anticipated to prevent further progression
of the disease due to its regenerative capacity, and considering the cost of immunosuppression
and the potential immune dysfunctions, autologous stem cell transplantation holds promise as a significant
method against allogeneic one to treat Parkinson's disease. In this review, the safety concerns surrounding
tumorigenicity and complications associated with transplantation are discussed, along with
methods utilized to evaluate the efficacy of such procedures. Subsequently, we summarize the preclinical
and clinical studies involving autologous stem cell transplantation for PD, and finally talk about the benefits
of autologous stem cell transplantation against allogeneic transplants.
