Can neurons fix themselves? This question was asked by Dr.
Calkins from Vanderbilt University. If this is true, this opens the door for
the nervous system to be included in regenerative medicine. Although popular
belief was to stop the disease by means pharmalogical methods before the cells
were completely damaged. Regenerative medicine intervenes after the cells were
destroyed and damaged. This intervention has been performed by introducing stem
cells into the damage site. Yet, Dr. Calkins asked the question if there is a
mechanism for self-repair that could take place before the damage began. Neurodegenerative
diseases would be a great topic to see this hypothesis proven true. Parkinson’s
disease is a neurodegenerative disease that is not lethal but makes life more
burdensome. The degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic neurons is what causes
this disease. The neurons in the midbrain are connected to parts of the brain
that responsible for motor control. Some
patients go under drug therapy. Although this process helps increase the
dopamine concentration, with continue exposure there is a decrease in influence
from the drugs, and the disease will persist.
However, researchers think they may have discovered a way to relieve
patients from Parkinson’s disease. Introduce dopanergic neurons in the damaged
area, also known as cell grafting. The key player for this process to be a
success is the manipulation of Wnt signaling. This signaling pathway is known
to affect neural development, guidance, axon outgrowth, and axonal
remodeling. By manipulating the expression
of Wnt in embryonic stem cells, there has been an increase in survival of
dopanerigic neurons when introduced to the damaged area of the midbrain. These new connections of the neurons has
improved motor function, the connectivity of the cells in these grafts are no where
near the complexity of that in the brain. Also, the ethical challenge of
receiving embryonic stem cells creates a limit on the amount of cells
introduced into a patient. Although
there are some hiccups there is a certain step forward in the study of
Parkinson’s disease. Researchers are on the brinks of finding long time
relieve; with perseverance and patience there is hope that no one else will
have to suffer from Parkinson’s disease.
Parish, Clare, and Lachlan Thompson. "Modulating Wnt
Signaling to Improve Cell Replacement Therapy for Parkinson's Disease."
Journal of Molecular Cell Biology 6.1 (2013): 54-63. PubMed. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.
<http://jmcb.oxfordjournals.org/content/6/1/54.long>.
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