Stem Cells Use As A Therapy For Huntington's Disease

Abstract

Huntington's disease is a progressive genetic neurodegenerative disease that causes the loss of medium spiny neurons in the brain's striatum. Huntington's is caused by a trinucleotide repeat, specifically CAG base pairs. The CAG repeat can cause a mutant form of the huntingtin protein to be produced. The exact mode in which the mutant protein causes the disease is still uncertain. However, patients with Huntington's experience a plethora of motor and cognitive issues. Currently, there is no cure for Huntington's; only means of symptom management exist. Stem cells are being studied as a therapeutic option in HD treatment as well as models of disease pathology. Various types of stem cells have been analyzed for their varying attractive qualities. Embryonic, neural, mesenchymal, adipose, and induced pluripotent stem cells have been studied using animal models. In this article, we will examine the cultivation, attributes, and any drawbacks of each of the mentioned stem cell types as means of therapeutic devices for HD.