随着实验室关于转化人类胚胎干细胞和诱导多能干细胞(iPS)成为可分泌多巴胺的神经元研究进展加速,越来越多的人开始怀疑,比起现有的治疗方法,细胞移植是否在某种程度上对帕金森病有明显益处。研究人员也日益认识到,帕金森症患者不仅仅是多巴胺不足。关于细胞治疗帕金森病的讨论可能很快变得更加激烈,欧洲科学家与北美的同事们一起协商取得欧洲委员会同意以进行新终端细胞移植试验。主要研究者认为,该试验将改进临床方法,成为用多能干细胞或胚胎干细胞分化而来的细胞进行治疗的跳板。然而,一些人认为这种试验方法是一种倒退。(生物谷Bioon.com)
生物谷推荐原始出处:
Science 16 October 2009:DOI: 10.1126/science.326_358
Fetal Cells Again?
Constance Holden
As lab research on converting human embryonic stem (hES) cells and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into dopamine-producing neurons proceeds apace, there's growing doubt in some quarters about whether cell transplants will ever show a clear benefit for Parkinson's disease beyond what can be achieved by existing therapies. And researchers are increasingly realizing that there's much more to Parkinson's than a dopamine shortage. The debate about cell therapy for Parkinson's may soon become more intense as scientists in Europe, in collaboration with colleagues in North America, are in final negotiations for a large European Commission grant to conduct a new fetal cell transplant trial. The trial will refine clinical methods and be a "steppingstone" to therapies with cells derived from iPS or hES cells, says the principal investigator. Yet news of the plans dismays some who think it's a step backward.