Role of Transcription Factors in Cell Replacement Therapies for Neurodegenerative Conditions
Document Type
Journal Article
Publisher
Future Medicine Ltd.
Faculty
Faculty of Computing, Health and Science
School
ECU Health and Wellness Institute
RAS ID
10597
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurological condition, behind dementia, for which there is currently no cure. A promising curative treatment approach is cell replacement therapy, which involves the introduction of new dopaminergic cells into a degenerative Parkinson’s disease brain. The future progression of this field into a clinically viable treatment option is reliant on generating replacement dopaminergic cells. Furthermore, as the ability of transplanted dopaminergic neurons to form connections with host tissue is dependent on where the cells are derived from, the replacement dopaminergic cells will need to be phenotypically similar to substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. This article focuses on how developmental transcription factors have been utilized to assist the progression of stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease. Key transcription factor-mediated stages of substantia nigra dopaminergic neuronal development is described in the belief that a comprehensive understanding of this specific dopaminergic differentiation pathway is necessary for the progression of successful cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease.
DOI
10.2217/rme.10.17
Comments
Thomas, M. (2010). Role of transcription factors in cell replacement therapies for neurodegenerative conditions. Regenerative Medicine , 5(3), 441-450. Available here