Clinical study of transplantation of neural stem cells in therapy of inherited cerebellar atrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical effect of neural stem cell transplantation in the treatment of inherited cerebellar atrophy (CA).


METHODS
The cells from human fetal cerebellum (8-10 weeks of gestation) were grown and expanded in vitro. The cultured neurospheres were then planted into the dentate nuclei of patients by stereo tactic operation. Totally, 12 patients (7 males and 5 females with age ranging 22-62 years, mean 43 years) were treated by this operation from August 2006 to August 2008.


RESULTS
The cells of fetal cerebellum were expanded by 10(7) folds in undifferentiated state in the culture. After the operation, no rejection was detected. Follow up, the effective rates were 58.3% after 3 months, 75.0% after 6 months, and 66.7% for 12-24 months (mean 18 months).


CONCLUSIONS
The transplantation of in vitro cultured neural stem cell is a feasible and effective treatment for inherited CA, but the long term effectiveness need to be taken in consideration.
Tian
Zeng-min
ZM
Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Navy, Beijing 100048, China. tianzengmin@sina.com
Chen
Tao
T
Zhong
Nanbert
N
Li
Zhi-chao
ZC
Yin
Feng
F
Liu
Shuang
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D053686:Fetal Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000637:transplantation*; D009849:Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult