Katie:
Thanks for this report. This makes a lot of sense, especially the blood
barrier and stem cell apect of it.
Rah
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----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 1:56 AM
Subject: Re: First you get PD then HIV.....
> Doug,
>
> I am not an expert on this, but I went to a meeting of the
Wisconsin
> Parkinson Foundation on May 17, 2002, where Dr. Clive Ivenson of the
> University of Wisconsin, an expert in stem cell transplantation and "brain
> repair," said the following:
>
> The studies with GDNF showed "dramatic results" and no serious side
> effects: in monkeys the degeneration of neurons was slowed and there was
an
> "enhancement effect" where new neurons were produced;
>
> GDNF is a big protein, and the problem is getting it across the
brain
> blood barrier;
>
> The use of stem cells as the transport mechanism for GDNF is the
> future for stem cell research;
>
> Neurons are very difficult to produce in the process of
manipulating
> the blastocyst to differentiate into a specific type of cell in stem cell
> transplantation; dopamine-producing neurons are extremely difficult to
> produce;
>
> Using stem cell transplantation to carry the GDNF avoids the
problem
> of getting GDNF across the brain blood barrier and the problems of the
> difficulty of making dopamine-producing neurons and making the
> dopamine-producing neurons in sufficient quantity for transplantation.
>
> Presumably using stem cells to carry GDNF would also avoid all the
> problems and difficulties of gene or virus techniques. (My conclusion: he
> did not even mention that research in his presentation).
>
> Of interest:
>
> He said that he would never use foetal tissue for transplantation
due
> to the lack of uniform results, the need to use the foetus at exactly
eight
> weeks, and the need to use five foetuses for each side of the brain.
>
> He said that 250 people in the world have received stem cell
implants,
> and only three have exhibited extreme, unpredicted side effects as those
> reported in the infamous N.Y. Times article. He said that in 1000 rats
there
> is no showing that the stem cell transplants result in tumors or unchecked
> proliferation of the transplanted cells.
>
> He said that changing red blood cells in the umbilical cord into
> dopamine-producing neurons was "science fiction" given the current state
of
> technology. Even with the rapid pace of development with stem cell
research,
> he did not think that, even in 10 years, this was a possibility. He said
> that the costs of storage of the umbilical cord were high, and may not be
> worth it.
>
> He said that "the immune system does not go beyond the brain blood
> barrier," and there is no serious issue of rejection of the transplanted
> cells in the brain. This makes stem cell transplantation in the brain
> significantly different from stem cell transplantation in other body parts
> where the rejection of the transplanted cells is a complicating factor.
>
> He said that he and his colleagues were very aware that they could
> not even get one bad result in their research. He said that the media
would
> pounce on a bad result, and it would effect his funding and potentially
the
> entire area of stem cell research.
>
> I think I have reported this as accurately and clearly as I can.
> Remember that I was a lawyer, and not a scientist. I found this all very
> interesting--and very hopeful. Research is developing at an extremely
rapid
> pace, and in all directions. Unfortunately, IMO, the political/legal
arena,
> the religious/ pro-life groups, and the ever-vigilent media can slow or
stop
> this promising research. Katie from Green Bay
>
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