Scientists seek cure for Parkinson's using skin from disease victims

Published on Wednesday 14 July 2010 13:15

SKIN from people with Parkinson's is to be used to grow the brain cells associated with the disease.

The skin cells will be genetically reset to "zero" before being launched on a new development path. Scientists hope to use them to grow neurons that produce the brain-signalling chemical dopamine.

Parkinson's disease, which is characterised by tremors, stiffness and lack of balance, is said to be triggered when dopamine neurons die off, upsetting the control of muscle movements.

A team led by Richard Wade-Martins, head of the Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, plans to recruit more than 1,000 patients with early stage symptoms.

Small samples of skin tissue will be genetically engineered to turn the clock back so they become induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells).

The cells will have the same properties as stem cells found in early stage embryos, including the ability to develop into virtually any kind of body tissue. By exposing the cells to the right cocktail of chemicals, the scientists hope to make them differentiate into dopamine neurons.

Dr Wade-Martins said: "Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the UK and is set to become increasingly common as we live longer."

He went on: "IPS cells provide new and exciting opportunities to grow and study dopamine neurons from patients for the first time.

"This technology will prove to be extremely important in diseases which affect the brain because of its relative inaccessibility - it's far easier to get a skin sample than a brain biopsy."