Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden believe they have discovered a new treatment avenue for Parkinson’s disease. In a study published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, they show how they managed to transform non-neuronal cells inside brain cells that produce dopamine.
A discovery that interests people with Parkinson’s because in their brains, dopamine-producing cells are damaged or destroyed. This is what leads to the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including tremors and disturbed balance.
Diseased cells have been reprogrammed
Scientists have long been looking for a way to replace damaged cells. The first trials involved the transplantation of dopamine neurons derived from the midbrain tissue of the fetus. “But in the face of the difficulties, they looked for sources of alternative cells, such as stem cells or reprogrammed cells”, notes Professor Ernest Arenas, main author of the study.
Based on their trials, conducted in mice, Professor Arenas and his team believe that cell reprogramming using a combination of genes and small molecules could be an effective strategy for treating Parkinson’s disease.
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