Human retinal pigment epithelial cell implants ameliorate motor deficits in two rat models of Parkinson disease.
Intrastriatal transplantation of gelatin microcarrier-attached human retinal pigment epithelial cells (hRPE-GM) may represent an alternative source for cell therapy in Parkinson disease (PD). The use of human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells in PD relies on the capacity of these cells to produce l-dopa as an intermediate product in the eumelanin synthesis pathway. We investigated the behavioral effects of hRPE-GM implants on forelimb use asymmetries and hindlimb motor deficits in unilateral and bilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat models of PD. We report that intrastriatal unilateral implantation of hRPE-GM in rats with 6-OHDA nigrostriatal lesions produce an amelioration of the contralateral forelimb disuse and the contralateral hindlimb deficits. These results further support the possibility that implantation of cultured hRPE cells may be a promising therapeutic option for patients with PD.
Cepeda
Ivan L
IL
Department of Medicine/Neurology and the Pacific Parkinson's Research Centre, University of British Columbia, 2221 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Flores
Joseph
J
Cornfeldt
Michael L
ML
O'Kusky
John R
JR
Doudet
Doris J
DJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005121:Extremities / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000637:transplantation*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*
D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; C021279:(1R-(exo,exo))-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-8-methyl-8- azabicyclo(3.2.1)octane-2-carboxylic acid, methyl ester; D003042:Cocaine