title: GDNF therapy for Parkinson's disease.
abstract: With an increase in the aging population, the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD), a disabling neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting motor function, will inevitably present a challenge to an already overburdened healthcare system. Current medical and surgical therapies offer symptomatic relief but do not provide a cure. Experimental studies suggest that GDNF has the ability to protect degenerating dopamine neurons in PD as well as promote regeneration of the nigrostriatal dopamine system. However, clinical trials of GDNF infusion to date remain inconclusive. This review will examine the experimental and clinical evidence of GDNF use in PD with particular focus on its potential as an effective therapy in the treatment of PD.
authors.affiliation: Cell Restoration Laboratory, Departments of Anatomy & Neurobiology & Surgery (Neurosurgery), Dalhousie University, Room 12H1, 5850 College Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 1X5.
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mukhida
authors.forename: Ivar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mendez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D004298:Dopamine