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Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration pp 215–227Cite as

Stereotaxic intrastriatal implantation of human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells attached to gelatin microcarriers: a potential new cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease

  • Conference paper

Part of the book series: Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa ((NEURAL SUPPL,volume 65))

Summary

Human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells are dopaminergic support cells in the neural retina. Stereotaxic intrastriatal implantation of hRPE cells attached to gelatin microcarriers (Spheramine®) in rodent and non-human primate models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) produces long term amelioration of motor and behavioral deficits, with histological and PET evidence of cell survival without immunosuppression. Long-term safety in cynomologous monkeys has also been demonstrated.

Six H&Y stage III/IV PD patients were enrolled in a one-year, open-label, single center study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Spheramine (−325,000 cells) implanted in the most affected post-commissural putamen. All patients tolerated the implantation of Spheramine® well and demonstrated improvement. At 6, 9, and 12 months post-operatively, the mean UPDRS-Motor score “off”, the primary outcome measure, improved 33%, (n = 6), 42% (n = 6), and 48% (n = 3), respectively. No “off-state” dyskinesias have been observed. Based on these preliminary results, Spheramine® appears to show promise in treating late stage PD patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    R. L. Watts, C. D. Raiser & N. P. Stover

  2. Cell Therapy, Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Somerville, NJ, USA

    M. L. Cornfeldt, A. W. Schweikert & Dr. R. C. Allen

  3. Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    T. Subramanian

  4. Pacific Parkinson Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    D. Doudet

  5. Division of Neurosurgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    C. R. Honey

  6. Department of Neurosurgery, Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

    R. A. E. Bakay

  7. Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 50 Division Street, Suite 503, Somerville, NJ, 08876, USA

    Dr. R. C. Allen

Authors
  1. R. L. Watts
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  2. C. D. Raiser
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  3. N. P. Stover
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  4. M. L. Cornfeldt
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  5. A. W. Schweikert
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  6. Dr. R. C. Allen
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  7. T. Subramanian
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  8. D. Doudet
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  9. C. R. Honey
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  10. R. A. E. Bakay
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiotec, Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany

    R. Horowski

  2. Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan

    Y. Mizuno

  3. Department of Neurology, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    C. W. Olanow

  4. Department of Neurology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    W. H. Poewe

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Federal Republic of Germany

    P. Riederer

  6. Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada

    J. A. Stoessl

  7. Department of Pharmacology, Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

    M. B. H. Youdim

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© 2003 Springer-Verlag Wien

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Watts, R.L. et al. (2003). Stereotaxic intrastriatal implantation of human retinal pigment epithelial (hRPE) cells attached to gelatin microcarriers: a potential new cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. In: Horowski, R., et al. Advances in Research on Neurodegeneration. Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementa, vol 65. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0643-3_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0643-3_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-211-83907-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-0643-3

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