Summary: Exercise enhances the effectiveness of stem cell-derived neuron transplants in a Parkinson’s disease ( PD ) rat model. Transplanted neurons only improved simple motor functions, but when combined with volunteer workout, the rats displayed considerably better dexterity and paw control.
The scientists found that exercising helped transplanted cells mature and form stronger relationships with host brain cells, possible due to an increase in valuable mental proteins. These studies suggest that exercise could be a basic, non-invasive way to boost result in future PD stem cell therapies.
Important Information:
- Therapy Synergy: Training enhanced the work of plant cell-derived synapse transplants in PD rats.
- Better Integration: Exercise promoted graft development and communication with host cells.
- Clinical Potential: Indicates a healthy, accessible way to improve results in people PD trials.
Origin: International Society for Stem Cell Research
Parkinson’s disease ( PD ) is a disabling neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 10 million people worldwide, with numbers steadily increasing.
Symptoms include spasms, issues with movement and speech, when also mental health issues and memory.
Although PD may be managed by drugs and lifestyle modifications, the effectiveness of these interventions varies between patients and should stop or change disease development.
PD is caused by liberal loss of a certain kind of neurons in the brain which produce serotonin, a chemical compound required to control movement, etc.
Encouragingly, research dating back to the seventies have shown that replacing lost serotonin neurons with donated maternal tissue-derived cells can improve signs in PD people.
Since then, scientists have made headway in generating a replenishable supply of dopaminergic neurons from embryonic stem cells in the lab and achieved encouraging outcomes when transplanting these tissues in dog models of PD.
Already, clinical trials are continuing to examine the safety and efficacy of transplanting for plant cell-derived neurons in PD patients. A key to success in patients will be the effective integration and development of the implanted cell within the mind.
To address this, a research team led by Clare Parish from The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health ( in Melbourne ) and Lachlan Thompson from the University of Sydney, Australia has now tested whether exercise enhances transplant function in PD rats.
In their research, animals received a plant cell-derived graft to replace lost dopaminergic neurons and some of the rats were given free access to a running wheel.
Their job was just published in Stem Cell Studies.
While the neurological grafts improved gross motor work, combined with exercising saw hand movements and agility improved tremendously.
Their study found that deliberate practice improved the development of the graft and the creation of connections between the graft and the rodent neurons.
A good reason for this was the increased production of certain helpful proteins in the brains of exercising rats which promoted transplant success and inclusion.
In conclusion, exercise may be a non-invasive and easily implemented strategy to enhance treatment outcomes in PD patients in combination with stem cell-derived transplants, warranting further testing in upcoming clinical trials.
About this Parkinson’s disease and genetics research news
Author: Kym Kilbourne
Source: International Society for Stem Cell Research
Contact: Kym Kilbourne – International Society for Stem Cell Research
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Exercise promotes the functional integration of human stem cell-derived neural grafts in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease ” by Clare Parish et al. Stem Cell Reports
Abstract
Exercise promotes the functional integration of human stem cell-derived neural grafts in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease
Human pluripotent stem cell ( hPSC)-derived dopamine neurons can functionally integrate and reverse motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease models, motivating current clinical trials.
However, dopamine neuron proportions remain low and their plasticity inferior to fetal tissue grafts.
Evidence shows exercise can enhance neuron survival and plasticity, warranting investigation for hPSC-derived neural grafts.
We show voluntary exercise ( wheel running ) significantly increases graft plasticity, accelerating motor recovery in animals receiving ectopic, but not homotopic, placed grafts, suggestive of threshold requirements.
Plasticity was accompanied by increased phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK+ ) cells in the graft ( and host ), reflective of mitogen-activated protein kinase ( MAPK)-ERK signaling, a downstream target of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor ( GDNF ) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF), proteins that were also elevated. Verifying improved graft integration was the increase in cFos+ postsynaptic striatal neurons.
These findings have direct implications for the adoption of physical therapy-based approaches to enhance neural transplantation outcomes in future Parkinson’s disease clinical trials.
