Mesenchymal stem cell-derived neuronal progenitor cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

This study aims to test the therapeutic potential of neuronal progenitor cells, differentiated from placental mesenchymal stem cells, for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. In this study, the differentiated neuronal progenitor cells were transplanted into two sites in the striatum of 6-OHDA rats, which represent a model of Parkinson's disease. The transplanted cells mediated behavioral improvements associated with the disease model. In addition, transplanted progenitor cells differentiated in-vivo into dopaminergic neurons, as visualized by immunohistochemistry.