title: Dopaminergic neuroprotection by neurturin-expressing c17.2 neural stem cells in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Genetically engineered neural stem cell (NSC) lines are promising vectors for the treatment of regenerative diseases, especially Parkinson's disease (PD). Neurturin (NTN), a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor-family, has been demonstrated to act specifically on mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, suggesting its therapeutic potential for PD. Here, we have generated a NTN-secreting c17.2 NSC line and investigated the protective effect of NTN-c17.2 on PD rat models. These NTN-releasing NSCs engrafted and integrated in the host striatum with good success, gave rise to neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, and maintained stable, high-level NTN expression. In addition, inverse transfer of NTN protein into the substantia nigra (SN) was able to protect dopaminergic neurons from 6-OHDA toxicity. Observation of rotational behavior showed that the NTN group performed significantly better than the Mock group, and the protective effect of NTN lasted for at least 4 months. HPLC tests indicated that the contents of neurotransmitters (e.g. dopamine) in the corpus striatum area of the NTN-c17.2 group and the Mock-c17.2 group were significantly higher than in the PBS group, but there was no significant difference between expression in the NTN-c17.2 and Mock-c17.2 groups. Taken together, our results suggest that transplantation of NTN-secreting NSCs exerted protective on PD rat models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Clinical and Research Center for Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, PR China.
authors.forename: Wei-Guo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sheng-Di
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D002452:Cell Count; D002460:Cell Line; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051101:Neurturin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051101:Neurturin; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D001058:Apomorphine; D004298:Dopamine