title: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) therapy for Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Many studies using animals clarify that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has strong neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects on dopaminergic neurons. Several pilot studies clarified the validity of continuous intraputaminal GDNF infusion to patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), although a randomized controlled trial of GDNF therapy published in 2006 resulted in negative outcomes, and controversy remains about the efficacy and safety of the treatment. For a decade, our laboratory has investigated the efficacy and the most appropriate method of GDNF administration using animals, and consequently we have obtained some solid data that correspond to the results of clinical trials. In this review, we present an outline of our studies and other key studies related to GDNF, the current state of the research, problems to be overcome, and predictions regarding the use of GDNF therapy for PD in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan. tyasu37@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shingo
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Date
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011699:Putamen
chemical_list: D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor