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Most women with PD are past the menopause, so endometrium all dried up ? Quoting Nic Marais <[log in to unmask]>: > Looks promising... I might even regret being a man;-)) > > Nic 58/16 > > On 7 May 2010 15:18, Mary Ann Ryan <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > Folks, a nurse friend sent this article to me. Thought all of you might > find it interesting. Since it is from the NIH, I didn't think we would run > into trouble posting it. > > ---------- > > Mary Ann > > > > U.S. Department of Health and Human Services > > NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NIH News > > Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human > Development (NICHD)<http://www.nichd.nih.gov/> > > For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 6, 2010 > > > > CONTACT: Robert Bock or Marianne Glass Miller, > > 301-496-5133, <e-mail:[log in to unmask] > > > > ENDOMETRIAL STEM CELLS RESTORE BRAIN DOPAMINE LEVELS > > Mouse Study May Lead to New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease > > > > Endometrial stem cells injected into the brains of mice with a > laboratory-induced form of Parkinson's disease appeared to take over the > functioning of brain cells eradicated by the disease. > > > > The finding raises the possibility that women with Parkinson's disease > could serve as their own stem cell donors. Similarly, because endometrial > stem cells are readily available and easy to collect, banks of endometrial > stem cells could be stored for men and women with Parkinson's disease. > > > > "These early results are encouraging," said Alan E. Guttmacher, M.D., > acting director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child > Health and Human Development (NICHD), the NIH Institute that funded the > study. "Endometrial stem cells are widely available, easy to access and > appear to take on the characteristics of nervous system tissue readily." > > > > Parkinson's disease results from a loss of brain cells that produce the > chemical messenger dopamine, which aids the transmission of brain signals > that coordinate movement. > (http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/parkinsons_disease/parkinsons_disease.htm). > > > > This is the first time that researchers have successfully transplanted stem > cells derived from the endometrium, or the lining of the uterus, into another > kind of tissue (the brain) and shown that these cells can develop into cells > with the properties of that tissue. > > > > The findings appear online in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular > Medicine. > > > > The study's authors were Erin F. Wolff, Xiao-Bing Gao, Katherine V. Yao, > Zane B. Andrews, Hongling Du, John D. Elsworth and Hugh S. Taylor, all of > Yale University School of Medicine. > > > > Stem cells retain the capacity to develop into a range of cell types with > specific functions. (http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/) They have been > derived from umbilical cord blood, bone marrow, embryonic tissue, and from > other tissues with an inherent capacity to develop into specialized cells. > Because of their ability to divide into new cells and to develop into a > variety of cell types, stem cells are considered promising for the treatment > of many diseases in which the body's own cells are damaged or depleted. > > > > In the current study, the researchers generated stem cells using > endometrial tissue obtained from nine women who did not have Parkinson's > disease and verified that, in laboratory cultures, the unspecialized > endometrial stem cells could be transformed into dopamine-producing nerve > cells like those in the brain. > > > > The researchers also demonstrated that, when injected directly into the > brains of mice with a Parkinson's-like condition, endometrial stem cells > would develop into dopamine-producing cells. > > > > Unspecialized stem cells from the endometrial tissue were injected into > mouse striatum, a structure deep in the brain that plays a vital role in > coordinating balance and movement. When the researchers examined the animals' > striata five weeks later, they found that the stem cells had populated the > striatum and an adjacent brain region, the substantia nigra. The substantia > nigra produces abnormally low levels of dopamine in human Parkinson's disease > and the mouse version of the disorder. The researchers confirmed that the > stem cells that had migrated to the substantia nigra became > dopamine-producing nerve cells and that the animals' dopamine levels were > partially restored. > > > > The study did not examine the longer-term effects of the stem cell > transplants or evaluate any changes in the ability of the mice to move. The > researchers noted that additional research would need to be conducted to > evaluate the safety and efficacy of the technique before it could be approved > for human use. > > > > According to the researchers, stem cells derived from endometrial tissue > appear to be less likely to be rejected than are stem cells from other > sources. As expected, the stem cells generated dopamine producing cells when > transplanted into the brains of mice with compromised immune systems. > However, the transplants also successfully gave rise to dopamine producing > cells in the brains of mice with normal immune systems. > > > > According to Dr. Taylor, because women could provide their own donor > tissue, there would be no concern that their bodies would reject the > implants. Moreover, because endometrial tissue is widely available, banks of > stem cells could be established. The stem cells could be matched by tissue > type to male recipients with Parkinson's to minimize the chances of > rejection. > > > > In addition, Dr. Taylor added that endometrial stem cells might prove to be > easier to obtain and easier to use than many other types of stem cells. With > each menstrual cycle, women generate new endometrial tissue every month, so > the stem cells are readily available. Even after menopause, women taking > estrogen supplements are capable of generating new endometrial tissue. > Because doctors can gather samples of the endometrial lining in a simple > office procedure, it is also easier to collect than other types of adult stem > cells, such as those from bone marrow, which must be collected surgically. > > > > "Endometrial tissue is probably the most readily available, safest, most > easily attainable source of stem cells that is currently available. We hope > the cells we derived are the first of many types that will be used to treat a > variety of diseases," said senior author Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., of Yale > University. "I think this is just the tip of the iceberg for what we will be > able to do with these cells." > > > > The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; > maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population > issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the > Institute's Web site at <http://www.nichd.nih.gov/>. > > > > The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research > Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. > Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for > conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, > and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and > rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit > <www.nih.gov>. > > > > ## > > > > This NIH News Release is available online at: > > <http://www.nih.gov/news/health/may2010/nichd-06.htm>. > > > > To subscribe (or unsubscribe) from this list, go to > > <http://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USNIH_1>. > > > > > > > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 9.0.819 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2858 - Release Date: 05/06/10 > 14:26:00 > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn