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This does not surprise me at all. However, nobody is preventing a second transplantation of cells after about 10 or 15 years. I wonder if they tried this idea! R. Rajaraman ***************** ----- Original Message ----- From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 12:20 AM Subject: Parkinson Transplants Survive At Least 16 Years > http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080412112931.htm > > Parkinson Transplants Survive At Least 16 Years > > ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2008) — Transplanted cells to help patients > with Parkinson's disease can survive in the brain for over one and > half decades. However, some of the transplanted cells developed > Parkinson-like features which is very surprising. These are the main > findings of a study on grafting of new neurons to the brain in > patients with Parkinson's disease. The study, headed by a team of > researchers from Lund University in collaboration with London > scientists, has been published in a recent issue of Nature Medicine. > > 'Previous studies have shown that transplanted dopamine cells can > clearly improve speed of movement, reduce rigidity and the need for > medication for at least a decade', says Jia-Yi Li, Associate Professor > of Neurobiology, Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University. 'We now > see that they also are alive in large numbers, which is very exciting.' > > However, in addition to the long-term survival of transplanted > neurons, the scientists also found that Parkinson's disease changes > may appear inside a graft. This suggests that the disease mechanism is > able to transfer gradually from a sick to a healthy cell in the brain. > > 'Our results suggest that key features of Parkinson's disease > pathology slowly transfer from the patient's brains to the healthy > nerve cells in the transplant', says Patrik Brundin, Professor of > Neuroscience and Head of the Neuronal Survival Unit at Lund University. > > 'We still do not know the precise cellular mechanisms, but the > findings open up new exciting lines of research. If we can crack the > mechanism, we may be able to devise treatments that prevent or slow > disease progression in the future.' > > The research group at Lund University and Lund University Hospital has > earlier shown that the transplanted cells are functional for a decade. > The new findings, that extend the survival time even further, mean > that cell therapy is still a viable possibility. > > 'Although we have now found that the grafted cells may be affected by > the disease, the pathological changes appear late. In my view > transplantation of dopamine cells, probably generated from stem cells, > therefore remains a promising and important novel strategy for the > treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease', says Olle Lindvall, > Professor of Neurology at Lund University Hospital. > > Journal reference: Lewy bodies in grafted neurons in subjects with > Parkinson's disease suggest host-to-graft disease propagation, Nature > Medicine. Published online: 6 April 2008 | doi:10.1038/nm1746 > > Adapted from materials provided by Lund University, via AlphaGalileo. > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG. > Version: 7.5.519 / Virus Database: 269.22.13/1375 - Release Date: > 12/04/2008 11:32 AM > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn