Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsEdge :

2008 AUG 18 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of self-renewing and differentiating into multiple tissues; they are expected to become a source of cells for regenerative therapy (see also Parkinson Disease). Compared to allogeneic MSCs, autologous MSCs from patients needing cell-based therapy may be an ideal alternative stem cell source," scientists in People's Republic of China report.

"However, characterizations of MSCs from a disease state remains extremely limited. Therefore, we have isolated and characterized MSCs from Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and compared them with MSCs derived from normal adult bone marrow. Our results show that PD-derived MSCs are similar to normal MSCs in phenotype, morphology, and multidifferentiation capacity. Moreover, PD-derived MSCs are capable of differentiating into neurons in a specific medium with up to 30% having the characteristics of dopamine cells. At last, PD-derived MSCs could inhibit T-lymphocyte proliferation induced by mitogens," wrote Z.Q. Zhang and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "These findings indicate that MSCs derived from PD patients' bone marrow may be a promising cell type for cellular therapy and somatic gene therapy applications."

Zhang and colleagues published their study in in Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal (Isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow of patients with Parkinson's disease. in Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal, 2008;44(5-6):169-177).

For additional information, contact Z.Q. Zhang, Dalian Cent. Hospital, Dept. of Neurology, Dalian 116033, People's Republic of China.

The publisher's contact information for the journal in Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Animal is: Springer, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013, USA.

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