Stem cell potential in Parkinson's disease and molecular factors for the generation of dopamine neurons.
Parkinson's disease (PD) involves the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons, making it the most expected neurodegenerative disease to be treated by cell replacement therapy. Stem cells are a promising source for cell replacement therapy due to their ability to self-renew and their pluripotency/multipotency that allows them to generate various types of cells. However, it is challenging to derive midbrain DA neurons from stem cells. Thus, in this review, I will discuss the molecular factors that are known to play critical roles in the generation and survival of DA neurons. The developmental process of DA neurons and functions of extrinsic soluble factors and homeodomain proteins, forkhead box proteins, proneural genes, Nurr1 and genes involved in epigenetic control are discussed. In addition, different types of stem cells that have potential for future cell replacement therapy are reviewed.
Kim
Hyun-Jung
HJ
Laboratory of Molecular and Stem Cell Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, South Korea. hyunjungkim@cau.ac.kr
D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008959:Models, Neurological; D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051155:Wnt1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D057126:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; D004298:Dopamine