http://www.reutershealth.com/news/docs/199703/19970327scb.html
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor Neuroprotective In Huntington Model
WESTPORT, Mar 27 (Reuters) - Encapsulated cells secreting ciliary
neurotrophic factor (CNTF) exert a protective effect against
striatal neuron degeneration when implanted in a monkey model of
Huntington's disease. Dr. Dwaine F. Emerich of Cyto Therapeutics
Inc. in Providence, Rhode Island, and colleagues at other
organizations describe their experimental findings in today's
issue of Nature.
The researchers placed intrastriatal implants of control cells or
"...polymer-encapsulated baby hamster kidney fibroblasts that had
been genetically modified to secrete human CNTF..." in a series
of cynomolgus monkeys. The animals were then injected in the same
location with quinolinic acid, which produced a neuropathology
like that seen in Huntington's disease.
Monkeys implanted with control cells developed "...extensive
lesions in the caudate nucleus and putamen which were elliptical
in shape," but in monkeys implanted with CNTF-secreting cells,
the size of these lesions was significantly reduced. The
protective effect was directed at specific cell types,
"...including GABAergic, cholinergic and diaphorase-positive
neurons." Moreover, CNTF prevented retrograde atrophy of neurons
in the motor cortex and preserved striatal innervation of the
globus pallidus and substantia nigra.
Dr. Emerich and colleagues suggest that the next step may be to
examine the behavioral effects of this strategy in animal models
of Huntington's disease. They also think the benefits of CNTF may
be applied to the treatment of "...other neurodegenerative
diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's."
Nature 1997;386:395-399.
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