Recovery of neurological functions in non-human primate model of Parkinson's disease by transplantation of encapsulated neonatal porcine choroid plexus cells

J Parkinsons Dis. 2013 Jan 1;3(3):275-91. doi: 10.3233/JPD-130214.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is primarily characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and a loss of their fibre projections in the striatum. We utilized the neonatal porcine choroid plexus (CP), an organ that secretes cerebrospinal fluid containing various types of neurotrophic and neuroprotective factors, to ameliorate the Parkinsonian symptoms in MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-treated rhesus monkeys without requiring immunosuppression. We demonstrate that transplanted encapsulated CP clusters (eCPs) significantly improved neurological functions in MPTP-treated monkeys during the course of six months after transplantation (p < 0.001) when compared with monkeys implanted with empty capsules or subjected to sham surgery. The improvement in neurological scores was accompanied by a corresponding improvement in apomorphine-induced circling behaviour (p < 0.001) as well as increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining in the striatum. Our results suggest that eCPs are a promising cell therapeutic agent to treat Parkinson's disease.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Apomorphine
  • Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Choroid Plexus / cytology*
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • MPTP Poisoning / pathology
  • MPTP Poisoning / surgery*
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Male
  • Movement / physiology
  • Neostriatum / metabolism
  • Nerve Net / cytology
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neurologic Examination
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / chemically induced
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / surgery*
  • Posture / physiology
  • Recovery of Function
  • Rotation
  • Swine
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism

Substances

  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Apomorphine