With the deepening of stem cell research, major breakthroughs in the clinical practice of stem cells in various diseases have been continuously made, especially in neurological diseases.
The first in China! iPSC-derived cells** Parkinson's disease was approved for national clinical study
In January 2024, XellBright Biopharma (Suzhou, Shanghai)**Roche Accelerator Member; Hereinafter referred to as "XellBio") and Shanghai East Hospital (East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University) (hereinafter referred to as "East Hospital")."Clinical Study of Clinical-Grade iPSC-Derived Dopaminergic Neural Precursor Cells** in Moderate to Severe Parkinson's Disease".After several rounds of review by the National Stem Cell Clinical Research Expert Committee, the project was officially approved by the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration (hereinafter referred to as the two committees) to carry out national stem cell filing clinical research (approved by the National Two Committees and the National Committee to carry out clinical record number: MR-31-24-001927).
It is reported thatThis project is the first clinical research on IPS-derived cells** Parkinson's disease approved by the National Commission and the National Commission of the People's Republic of China, and it is also the only national-level stem cell record clinical research project for IPS-derived cells** nervous system diseases that has been officially approved in China so far.
Japan officially approved: intravenous and spinal cavity injection of stem cells** Parkinson's disease began in December
On November 20, 2023, the Biostar Stem Cell Research Institute (Director: Dr. Jeongchan Ra), an adult stem cell research institute in Korea, announced that adipose stem cells cultured in the vein and spinal cord cavity using a patented technology using a patented technology to give autologous stem cells** Parkinson's disease have been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare, and will begin at the Shinjuku clinic in Tokyo in December**.
The approved stem cell** regimen includes intravenous injection1.5 - 2.500 million adipose stem cellsand inject 50 million cells into the spinal cavity for a total of 5 injections, spaced 2 to 4 weeks apart. **The stem cells used will be sourced from the Biostar Stem Cell Research Institute in Korea or its Japanese affiliate, JASC. This approach is expected to improve the effectiveness of ** and may also be effective for other neurological diseases that are unable to **.
Stem cells perform three major functions**Parkinson's disease
The most critical thing about the progression of Parkinson's disease is:Damage to the striatal dopaminergic pathway caused by degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrainStem cells start from this key point to repair this pathway and improve Parkinson's. Mainly due to the three characteristics of stem cellsMultidirectional differentiation potential, paracrine mechanisms, immunomodulatory effects
Stem cells can aggregate and penetrate into diseased tissues and transform intoDopaminergic neurons, replacing damaged cells and rebuilding nerve circuits, thereby restoring nerve function.
Stem cells can create a suitable local microenvironment to promote endogenous dopaminergic neuronsSelf-healing
Stem cells can also be secretedVarious neurotrophic factors(such as BDNF, GDNF, NGF, etc.), which plays a role in the protection and nutrition of dopaminergic neurons.
Clinical status of stem cells**Parkinson's disease
In 2020, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a case in which patients were transplanted with dopaminergic precursor cells derived from autologous induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). A total of 2 transplants, 6 months apart, with a dose of 4 million cells per transplant. Imaging showed that two iPSC** grafts had been delivered to the putamen of the target and were stably alive in the patient. After receiving a stem cell transplant**, the condition no longer deteriorated, tended to stabilize, and even improved.
In 2019, the international journal Cell Transplant reported a clinical trial for transplantation of human neural progenitor cells (NPCs)** Parkinson's patients. A total of 8 Parkinson's patients were enrolled. The results showed that 1 year after stem cell transplantation, 7 patients showed varying degrees of improvement in motor function, and 5 patients had a better response to existing medications**. PET imaging showed that the activity of brain dopaminergic neurons was enhanced, and the improvement effect was more significant than that before intervention.
In July 2018, Kyoto University approved a clinical trial using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) for Parkinson's disease. On November 9, Kyoto University in Japan announced that neural progenitor cells (IPS, stem cells cultivated through "reprogramming" of mature somatic cells) induced pluripotent stem cells were injected into the brain of a Parkinson's patient in his 50s.
Write at the end
Parkinson's disease seriously affects the quality of life of patients and places a heavy burden on families and society. Stem cells have become a new research trend in Parkinson's disease, and stem cells will become one of the most effective methods of Parkinson's disease, along with other methods to fight this debilitating disease.