Transplanted Cells May Not Function Long Term

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Transplanted Cells May Not Function Long Term

(Source: Rush University Medical Center) - Researchers report that

neurons grafted into the brain of a patient with Parkinson's disease

fourteen years ago have now developed Lewy body pathology.

The finding suggests that Parkinson's disease is an ongoing process

that can affect cells grafted into the brain in the same way the

disease affects host dopamine neurons in the brain.

" These findings give us a bit of pause for the value of cell

replacement strategy for Parkinson's disease, " said Kordower,

PhD. " We still need to vigorously investigate this approach among the

full armament of surgically-delivered Parkinson's disease therapies.

While it is not clear to us whether the same fate would befall stem

cell grafts, the next generation of cell replacement procedures, this

study does suggest that grafted cells can be affected by the disease

process. "

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http://www.rush.edu/rumc/page-1134772424562.html