Engraftment of dopamine neuron precursor cells derived from adult mesenchymal stem cells: preliminary in vivo study

Cell therapy has been proposed as an alternative for treatment of neurodegenerative disorder. Parkinson’s Diseases (PD) are caused by specific and selective loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons [1]. The possibility of replacing those cells has been explored through the transplantation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), fetal stem cells, induced pluripotential stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in animal models and clinical trials [1,2]. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of transplanting adult MSCs pre-differentiated into dopaminergic neurons and look for their capability to brain engraftment and the possible improvement of PD symptoms in a PD rat model.