Recent Advances in Stem Cell Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known to be second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease [1] which is becoming a challenge to deal with.

Epidemiological study has revealed that 5 million people after age of 50 years worldwide are affected with PD and it will increase in next 20 years [2]. PD is most common in men (1.5 times) than women [3]. Its incidence is higher in developed countries [4] due to increased age group. Therefore, age is an important risk factor for PD.

Genetic mutations include those in alpha-synuclein (SNCA), Parkin, PINK, DJ-1 (PARK6), Leucine-rich repeat kinase2 (LRRK2), PARK9, GBA (glucocerebrosidase), DNAJC6, SY NJ1, ATXN2, ATXN3, GCH1, DCTN1 etc. [5]. Among these genes SNCA, Parkin, DJ-1, PINK- 1 are most common gene mutations resulting in PD [6]. People with close relatives with PD do increase their risk of getting PD but still the risk is 2-5% until family has a known mutated gene of PD [7]. Other risk factor is the exposure of the environmental toxins [4, 8] such as pesticides, exposure to heavy metals, smoking, interstitial toxins which have shown a marked decrease in dopaminergic neuronal cells [9, 10]. According to the scientists, PD is not a fatal disease but by time it worsens the normal functions [11] .

Treatment of PD with the transplantation of gene is considered to be one of the promising approaches towards the treatment of PD [12] . Over last two years investigators relocated the dopaminergic (DA) cells like adrenal medullary dopaminergic cells, into the striata of PD animal models [13, 14]. In recent time, researchers manipulated growth factors (FGF-2b, FGF8, SHH) and produced DA neurons from rodent embryonic stem cell and transplanting them into striata of PD animal model. Surprisingly, these transplanted neurons persisted and integrated into normal brain function in PD of animal model [2, 4]. Researchers can produce yet more DA neurons to transplant into brain of PD animals by overexpression of Nurr 1 in embryonic stem cell [17, 18, 19, 20].

Most common tools for reproducing the brain cells include embryonic stem cell (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs), neural stem cell (NSCs) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs). Several mechanisms like cell replacement, mediating re-myelination, trophic factor and modulation of inflammation can be useful in Stem cell therapies [5].

From years, researches are going on for the treatment and management of PD because it is very common disease in old population in the developed countries. In the past decades, PD was been treated with drugs which has some very severe adverse effects such as wearing off phenomena, motor fluctuation, and abnormal movements as dyskinesia. Beside the drug therapy, surgical treatment is not the option preferred at early stage of disease and it even results in some serious after effects.

From years, researches are going on for the treatment and management of PD because it is very common disease in old population in the developed countries. In the past decades, PD was been treated with drugs which has some very severe adverse effects such as wearing off phenomena, motor fluctuation, and abnormal movements as dyskinesia. Beside the drug therapy, surgical treatment is not the option preferred at early stage of disease and it even results in some serious after effects.

Though these new treatments of PD will help in reducing the weightage of PD but much work and new tools are still required for the management and decreasing the graph of PD.

The idea of cell replacement therapy was emerged in 1979, and it was decided to use intra-cerebral grafts of fetal mesencephalic tissue (rich in dopaminergic neuroblasts) in rats [21, 22], but clinically it was not implemented because it was not ethically approved to use the tissue from the aborted fetuses and on the other hand even difficult to collect human fetal tissue containing dopaminergic neurons, so it was not performed.

A study done on four patients with PD, by Oslon, Seiger and Backlund [23, 24] using autologous graft of adrenal medulla cells into striatum to provide a catecholamine source to the cells, but no good results were produced, so the method was dropped out.

Further in 1987, first intra-striatal implantation of human fetal mesencephalic tissue (taken from 6-9-week old fetus) was performed on patient with PD [25], the aim was to see whether the denerveted striatum could again be reinnervated and transplanted cell could survive, this studies continued until late 1990s. However,this clinical studies was terminated after patients develop dyskinesia [26] and lack of efficacy. Another study was done on patients in Lund, Sweden in the late 1980s to mid-1990s who receive of fetal cell transplantation [27, 28] after 15 and 18 years of post-transplantation follow-up the patients motor activity was improved but the non-motor activity didn’t show any improvement and graft induced dyskinesia’s (GIDs) remains the problem of all the patients [29, 30, 31]. The postmortem studies of these patients reveal that the presence of Lewy bodies of about range of 2-8% and about 80% of increased levels of alpha synuclein in cell bodies, with premature aging of cell. Furthermore, it suggests that with the time the grafted neuron reduces the dopamine transporter which has its effects on the grafted cells [32, 33, 34]. In early 2000s TRANSEURO European Union-funded multicenter started to figure out the stem cell related GIDs and other disorders. They set a protocol to choose patients for transplant, emphasized on young age group with early stage disease.

According to a Commentary published on 2017, Zuo and his colleagues transplanted the human stem cells (hNSCs) on an animal model but instead of focusing on the recovery of nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway they assess the sub ventricular zone (SVZ), which is a major neurogenic niche(stem cell-enriched brain region).This study leads to underexplored putative regenerative pathway in PD. After testing and imaging, better performance was seen in motor and cognitive task compared to lesion control animal, hence prove the key role of SVZ in recovery. In a nutshell this study suggest that the transplanted stem cell did not directly stimulated the functional activity in PD animals but it promote the activity of neurogenic SVZ through the resident stem cells within the niche, to recruit a complex brain regenerative machinery [35].

Molecular and Genetic Processes in Parkinson’s Disease

Hallmark pathology of Parkinson’s disease is loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and diminution of dopamine levels in the striatum [36]. Experiments show that PD has impacts on prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate gyrus and/or fronto-striatal pathways as well [37].

Though the exact mechanism of loss of DA neurons in SNpc is not well known. However, the commencement and development of PD may be related to protein misfolding and accumulation, over-excitation , oxidative trauma, failure to generate energy, mitochondrial destruction, impairment of pathways of protein clearing, cell-autonomous mechanisms and “prion-like protein infection” [38, 39, 40]. The foremost hypothesis for PD amongst them is protein misfolding and its subsequent accumulation in intracellular spaces [41, 42]. Lewy bodies (LB) is the chief misfolded amyloid protein in intracellular spaces of SNpc neurons in PD [38, 42, 43] containing various misfolded amyloid proteins , which includes alpha-synuclein (SNCA), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and amyloid beta protein (Aβ) [42, 44]. Sporadic PD (SPD) has various environmental toxins linked to it, and it can be simulated to some extent in experimental PD models of animals, for instance the use of paraquat and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) [45, 46. In contrast to SPD, familial cases are infrequent, and do not exhibit the symptoms of PD like tremor, bradykinesia and muscle rigidity along with impaired gait, and posture as well as frontostriatal-mediated executive dysfunction, including deficits in attention, speed of mental processing, verbal disturbances, impairment of working memory and impulsivity. This makes it harder in understanding the pathogenesis of PD [41, 47].

Limited symptomatic treatments for PD currently existing, are applicable only to a limited amount of patients. Furthermore, permeability issues, short-life span and adverse effects are the chief concerns for the use of these drugs in treating PD. Recent advances in stem cell transplantation [48, 49, 50] and gene therapies [51, 52] serve as a substitute of drugs in the treatment of PD. For instance, application of genetically engineered DA neurons are proved to be beneficial in PD mouse models [50, 5]. Also, improper functioning of metabolic pathways in PD are corrected by scientists by the use of recombinant adeno associated viral vectors (rAAV) or lentiviral [54]. Likewise, current generation of gene editing technique, known as, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), have shown to be worthwhile in the treatment of PD [52].

Accumulation of Misfolded Proteins

Accumulation of alpha-synuclein (SNCA)

Intracellular accumulation of Lewy bodies in DA neurons of SNpc [55] containing alpha synuclein (SNCA) and other associated proteins is the hallmark pathology in PD [44]. On examining the brains of numerous PD patients, Gomperts and colleagues established a mash of amyloid deposits in their brain, and it was related to cognitive regression without dementia, which proposed that amyloid adds to cognitive, but not motor regression with time [56]. In the same way, Hepp and colleagues proposed that the degree and the level of extension of Aβ pathology adds to congnitive dys-functioning in PD with dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (LBD) [5]. The oligomers, proto-fibrils, and fibrils of SNCA or other misfolded amyloid proteins produce a pore in the membrane and triggering the death of neurons by over-excitation, energy failure, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation [44, 58]. Likewise, SNCA gene mutations (for e.g. E46K, H50Q, A53T and A30P) are responsible for early beginning, quick progression and greater association of dementia in familial PD [59]. SNCA when overly expressed in animal and cell culture models indicated aggregation of SNCA in mitochondria [60]. Overexpression of SNCA in mice indicated mitochondrial lipid abnormalities and dysfunctioning of electron transport chain [61], and the sensitivity of mice to mitochondrial toxins became less [62]. Studies of human DA neurons in PD brain also showed the presence of respiratory chain dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage in mitochondria [63].

Tau hyper-phosphorylation (p-tau)

Tau hyper-phosphorylation produce neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), that are paired helical fragments of tau, a characteristic feature of fronto-temporal dementia with parkinsonism (FTDP) [64]. This neurodegenerative disease is related to chromosome 17, with buildup of p-tau in SNpc and cortex [64]. Co-localization of p-tau with LB, often occurs in sporadic PD [65]. Also, mutation in the gene encoding microtubule associated protein (MAPT) produces rise in the levels of p-tau accumulation [65]. The p-tau is also related to mutations in LRRK2 gene [47]. Co-localization of NFTs with SNCA in LB cause disruption in the structure of DA neurons, and this causes quick detoriation and death of DA neurons [64, 66, 67].

Genetic Mutations in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkin is a protein that plays an important role in ubiquitinproteasome system, which aids in destruction of misfolded proteins. Its mutation results in accumulation of misfolded proteins in SNpc [68]. Mutations of parkin in idiopathic PD patients and in mice that have low levels of parkin, exhibit loss of neurons in locus coeruleus of the midbrain [68]. Parkin also control DA levels that are released by SNpc [36]. DJ-1 (PARK7) is a dimer which is present in the cytoplasm, nucleus, and mitochondria, and PD in early onset is related to this dimer [69]. Its mutation and deletions result in autosomal recessive PD [45]. It also co-localizes with p-tau, SNCA and produces the pathologies of synuclein and p-tau [57]. PINK1 (PARK6) produces a protein called PTEN-induced putative kinase-1, which is located in mitochondria and defend the neurons against stresses that cause mitochondria l injury [70]. Its mutations are seen in PD, where it makes the cells susceptible to damage [70, 71]. Its mutations are also related to impairment of mitochondrial functions as well as destruction of SNpc neurons, that results in PD [70].

Excessive Glutamate Production

Deficiency of DA neurons cause the sub thalamic nuclei (STN) to become over excited, that results in enhanced glutamate production [72]. This then binds to NMDA or AMPA receptors and opens calcium channels. Increased levels of calcium cause mitochondrial injury and generate ROS, which cause oxidative injury [73, 74] .

Alterations Involving Protein Degradation Pathways

Ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS): Its dysfunction causes accumulation of amyloid proteins, for instance LB, and intense neurodegeneration in SNpc [75, 76] . Molecular chaperones known as heat shock proteins (HSP). HSP70 has an ATPase domain, whose mutation increases the toxicity of SNCA [77]. Likewise, its excess expression in rat brain portions, decreases the toxicity of rotenone or MPTP induced neurotoxicity [78].

Mitochondrial Injury and Oxygen Trauma

ATP production in the cells is affected due to impaired activity of complex-I in mitochondria, which results in cellular death [79]. Brain monoamines, including DA and 5-HT serve as antioxidants [80]. DA degradation by monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B), along with the available ground state oxygen, results in ROS production [81]. In PD, there is a rise in oxidative stress markers along with related changes (e.g damage to DNA, proteins and fats by free radicals) [81].

Prion Hypothesis

In this hypothesis, it is proposed that SNCA, analogous with prion proteins, extends throughout the CNS, and contaminate nearby novel and fit neurons, and it goes on until most of the damage has occurred. Thus, this type of infection may be the cause of development and neuronal degeneration in certain sorts of PD [42].

PD leads to temperamental, social and economical disintegration to patient’s relatives, friends and family. Unluckily, efficacious remedies are not presently achievable, despite of that, rapid detection and suitable mitigative therapies can offer a much effective and prolonged life span for the patients of PD.

Sources of Stem Cells

Bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) and olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) have been used for the treatment of PD, but these have less potential in differentiating to DA neurons [82, 83, 84]. Presently, researchers are working on carrying out studies on different cell lines which include neural stem cells (NSCs) and human fetal dopamine (DA) neurons, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and directly induced dopamine neurons (iDA neuron) generated from autologous somatic cells [85, 86, 87].

Recent Advancements in Different Stem Cell Sources

Neural stem cells (NSCs) and human fetal DA neurons

In 1965, Neural stem cells (NSCs) were documented at first [88] and were characterized as granule cells having greater degree of proliferation in brain cortices. They can be transformed into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons. NSCs can be obtained from hippocampus, sub ventricular zone (SVZ) of brains of adult mammals and other areas of fetal brains as well [89, 90]. When NSCs obtained from mouse and humans are implanted into brains of rats, they locate and relocate and transform in a pattern that is confined to a particular locus. In PD rats that have low DA proportion, NSCs favorably transform into DA neurons [91]. Transcription proteins such as Lmx1a and Msx1 were manifested in DA neural progenitor in ventral part of midbrain and these proteins induce DA neuron production with midbrain similarity. They caused the differentiation of neural progenitor cells into DA neurons in midbrain of chick embryos and are responsible for their selectivity and development. NSCs were transformed into DA neurons by five-step procedure. By overexpression of ASCL1 which is a transcription factor, human neural progenitor cells generated larger neurons which had much more neuritis [92]. NURR1 is a regulatory protein in DA neuron differentiation, growth and proliferation of DA neurons [93]. Its overexpression caused NSCs of mouse models to transform into DA neurons and persist in vivo in PD rats [94].

There are a few studies which suggested little recovery after grafting substantia nigra-derived fetal cells into PD models of rats, but most found most favorable results [95, 96]. Redmond et al. [97] demonstrated ventral mesencephalic (VM) neurons tissue when grafted to the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned African Green Monkeys (AFG) persisted in their brains and all the animals became better in behavioral aspects by 9 months of post-transplantation in primate model of PD [97].

First clinical trials occurred in Sweden in 1980’s in animal research studies to graft fetal DA neurons to patients of PD in placebo-controlled trials [98]. Motor functions were measured quantitatively, and clinical trials were carried out to implant human fetal DA neurons to patients of PD. Noteworthy effects were observed in behavioral and histological aspects in these researches [99, 100] Freed et al. conducted double-blind, sham surgery-controlled study by nominating 40 patients with average PD span of about 14 years and haphazardly distributing them into two groups each having 20 patients. The transplantation group received fetal neural cells bilaterally while the control group received sham surgery. They all were assessed one-year posttransplantation which was done on Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). In comparison to control group, noteworthy therapeutic effects were observed in patients at 60 years of age and younger and showed no noteworthy therapeutic effects in adults, with variations in therapeutic effectiveness. Olanow et al. [101] conducted double-blind control trial with 34 patients of severe PD for two years post transplantation. They were haphazardly given bilateral grafting of fetal DA neurons as transplantation group or sham surgery as control group. At postmortem examination, robust DA neurons persisted yet no noteworthy improvements were observed in transplantation versus control group [101]. Additional double-blind study was conducted in which 33 patients grafted with fetal DA neurons were followed up for two years and out of these, 15 patients were followed up for 2 years or further. On UPDRS motor ratings, noteworthy therapeutic benefits were observed the uptake of [48] F-flurodopa (18F-FDOPA) by putamen was observed. PET showed that fetal grafts survived in patients of PD over the study of four years [102]. Though, dyskinesia was observed as a consequence of such grafts, predominantly seen in those taking levodopa for PD. [101] Olanow et al. identified that about 56% of PD patients suffered from sustained dyskinesia after the removal of medication they were taking for PD[101] which was quiet much than 15% of PD patients who developed dyskinesia Freed et al. [100] reported. After transplantation of such neural grafts, relapse of dyskinesia has been reported [103, 104]. Contexts have proved that these grafts contain serotonin neurons that are related to such dyskinesia, therefore, cells with homogenous populations should be used for grafting [105, 106].

A study was conducted, which showed that grafted fetal DA neurons persisted for about 14 year without producing any detrimental effects, indicating their invulnerability and usefulness [107]. Two studies were performed and showed that Lewy bodies containing alpha-synuclein disseminated to the grafted DA neurons 14 or16-years post-transplantation [108, 109] suggesting that it can be a continuous process.

A multicenter and collaborative study of European Union (TRANSEURO) was established in 2010, which formed new strategies for clinical trials of fetal midbrain DA therapy for patients of PD. These comprise of mindful selection of patients, who are of 30 to 68 years at inclusion time period, responding well to levodopa, are at early stages in their disease process, site of graft implants should be assesses systematically, standards of clinical analysis, amount of patients and post-transplantation immunosuppression and time of follow-up. TRANSEURO performed new clinical trials of greater than 100 patients of PD and results are in the process of analysis [110, 111].

Human Embryonic Stem Cells (HESCs)

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are pluripotent and self-restoring cells that are segregated from inner cell mass of the pre-implantation blastocysts [112]. They can differentiate into any sort of tissue, for instance DA neurons, neural stem cells (NSCs) and neurons, hESCs were first segregated by their inner cell mass cells culture with feeder cells that are obtained from mouse embryonic fibroblast (MSFs) [113, 114]. Yan et al. established strategies to produce midbrain-like DA neurons from hESCs that are obtained from neuroepithelial cells by adding growth factor SHH and FGF8 in a definite pattern [114]. Initial precursors assume a region peculiarity which caused transformation of midbrain neuroepithelial cells. Locomotive defects in rat models of PD showed betterment after the application of hESC-derived DA neurons, as long as these started to function in vivo [115, 116]. Chamber et al. established a strategy to improve the effectiveness of DA production from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). They proposed that propagation and persistence of DA neurons from hESCs is increased by inhibiting SMAD signaling [116]. Noggin and SB431542, when added to prevent SMAD signaling, causes neural transformation of >80% of hESCs which was carried out in adherent culture environment Fasano et al. [117] proposed that those neurons which show failure to develop towards anterior regionalization, can be transformed to midbrain DA neurons by the addition of FGF8 or Wnt1 [117]. They also established a floor plate-based technique to produce DA neurons from hESCs in a differentiation medium, which contains activators of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and WNT signaling in vitro. DA neurons thus obtained, propagated for greater than 18 weeks and also restored the rotation dysfunctions caused by amphetamine in vivo after their grafting into 6-OHDA_lesioned rats and MPTPlesioned rhesus monkeys [118]. Another group study, revealed that by the use of lentiviral vectors in hESCs for the expression of a gene LMX1A , that regulates DA neurons, generated A9 subtype of ventral midbrain DA neurons for greater than 60% of all neurons being produced by LMX1A-tranfected hESCs [119]. Major problems regarding stromal cells use as feeder cells for culture of cells derived from hESCs are that these have few rodent cells in them which have associated risks of immune rejections. To solve this issue, few studies established feeder-free culture system that utilize matrigels in place of feeder cells [92, 93] Schulz et al. [120] produced DA neurons in serum-free suspension approach [120] Vazin et al. [121] substituted PA6 stromal cells with growth factors IGF2, SDF- 1, EFNB1, and PTN. These factors caused the transformation of hESCs into TH-positive DA neurons directly [121]. After the early differentiation step of hESCs into NSCs, growth factors SHH and FGF8 were shown to substitute for PA6 stromal cells. Serum was not included in their culture strategies. A significant innovation made by them was that cells could be reinstituted at each of the intermediate stages in their four-stage process (ESC proliferation →NSC production → DA neuron precursor induction → DA development) destitute of function deprivation, causing the cells to be grafted at a relevant point in developing neurons [122]. Clinical trials are not still conducted for treating patients of PD, though hESCs can be transformed into many DA neurons in vitro and have also proved to reinstitute motor disorders in animal models of PD. Matter of concerns are: 1) the stability in physical composition of DA neurons post-transplantation, and 2) concerns regarding hESCs that remain undifferentiated that have the potential for tumor development. Moreover, there are ethical concerns as well.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)

Preliminary studies proved that somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is used to reprogrammed differentiated somatic cells into an undifferentiated form [123, 124, 125]. However, this technique has not yet applied to generate patient specific cells [126,127]. Mouse iPSCs were produced first in Yamanaka lab in 2006 by the lentiviral expression of four transcription factors: Sox2, c-Myc, Oct3/4, and Klf4 in fibroblasts obtained from mouse embryos [128]. Shortly, Yamanaka lab and other labs, utilized human orthologs of these four transcription factors: Sox2, NANOG, OCT4, and LIN28, for the production of human iPSCs as well for those patients who were related to diseases like PD [128, 129, 130]. Oct3/4 and Sox2 play an important part in the proliferation of undifferentiated ESCs in culture [131]. Klf4 and c-Myc aid in somatic cells reprogramming . Subsequent studies proved that Oct3/4 and Sox2 seem to be the only genes necessary for the production of iPSCs [132] while Klf4 and c-Myc are not of use [133]. Reprogramming of differentiated somatic cells of an organism to pluripotent embryonic-like form produces iPSCs. They possess less risks of rejection since the cultured cells are autologous. However, ethical concerns are still a problem. As soon as they are reprogrammed into iPSC form, growth factors are introduced into them so as to differentiate them into specific lineages (eg: NSCs or DA neurons) [134, 135]. Effects of therapy with mouse iPSCs were studied by grafting them into brain of rats [136]. It was reported that transplanted iPSCs developed into DA neurons. This resulted in betterment of behavioral symptoms in PD models of rats. Further studies reported that, neural stem cell or iPSCs obtained from humans proved to be effective in PD models of rat and monkey [137, 138, 139, 140]. Regarding the utilization of iPSCs for treating PD, no clinical trials have yet been performed. Since the interaction between transgenes and viral vectors in the iPSC genome may result in malignant mutations or may derange their differentiation capability, Jaenish et al. generated such iPSCs for PD patients which lack transgenes. This was done by an enzyme called “Cre recombinase”, which removes the reprogramming factors. This type of patient-iPSCs presented global gene expression which seem to be similar to hiPSCs and hESCs that bear transgenes [141]. The degeneration of DA neurons was fixed by the repairing the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, which shows that this mutation is an essential factor in causing PD [142] Isacson et al. [97] utilized stromal feeder cell-based strategy and grafted DA neurons differentiated from non-viral PD-iPSCs into rat models which have 6-OHDA lesions. It was reported that these neurons persisted and showed functional recovery by decreasing the rotational asymmetry caused by apomorphine [138]. This group also reported that autologous iPSCs obtained from cynomolgus monkeys (CM) when autologous grafted into CM having MPTP lesions, proved to have long-standing improvements in functions and persisted for about 2 years and also the brain of CM was re-innervated [143]. Transplantation of iPSCs-NSCs recovered the motor deficits of rat models with PD from 4th-16th week [137]. Reprogramming efficacy became better by using histone deacetylase, valproic acid (VPA) and DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, especially increasing th efficacy by two orders of magnitude, about 10%, in the absence of c-Myc Stadtfeld et al. [144] reprogrammed liver cells of mouse into iPSCs by the expression of four transcription factors of adenoviruses [144] Okita et al. [145] generated iPSCs by putting plasmids containing the suitable genes repeatedly into fibroblasts of embryo [145]. By the use of the transposon piggyback, this strategy was utilized in human cells by Kaji et al. [146] which carried the chances of remaining sequences and chromosomal mishaps. iPSCs lacking transgene sequences and vector are also produced by utilizing non unified episomal vectors [147]. Direct protein transduction system which lacks DNA vector generates iPSCs that have no chances of integrations and mutations in chromosomes [97] Isacson et al. [148] proposed a proficient method for differentiation and sorting of DA neurons from human ES as well as human iPS cells. VMDA neurons augmented with NCAM (+) / CD29 (low), were sorted out from pluripotent stem cell-differentiated cells. These sorted neurons were positive for EN1/TH and FOXA2/TH and expression of NURR1, EN1, GIRK2, PITX3, TH, FOXA2, and LMX1A was very high, clearly showing that the neural cells that were sorted out are DA neurons. This proved that cell therapies obtained from iPSCs are quite secure and useful techniques for future therapies [139]. Certain amendments are made to decrease the mutagenicity of utilized lent viruses and retroviruses. For instance, c-Myc retrovirus when gets reactivated, may possess tumor potential [149]. Though, c-Myc removal may result in decreased efficacy in iPSC generation. Replacement of Klf4 and c-Myc with Nanog and Lin28, decreases the chances of tumor formation to a greater extent. This proves that c-Myc is responsible for propagation or increasing the rapidity of phases that develop pluripotency, whereas developing pluripotency by itself is not compulsory [121] Chen et al. [150]. established a suspension system for culturing, and it was habituated by O’Brien [151] and Laslett [152] to utilize them in hESCs and hiPSCs (revised by Serra et al. [153]. Long duration of culturing is maintained in such systems, yet preserving the usual karyotype, pluripotency, and expropriate expression of markers. A factor OCT4 along with CHIR 99021, TGF- β inhibitor, and VPA can derive iPSCs from adult and mouse fibroblasts [133]. Currently, a study proved that iPSCs of rhesus monkey naïve are obtained simply with smaller molecules, escaping OCT4, serving to be an important cell source to be utilized therapeutically as well as in researches [154].

Directly Induced Dopamine Neurons (iDA neurons)

Complex ways in the production of iPSCs, representation, differentiation, and description into DA neurons have made the researchers to sort out achievable and obtainable ways to generate DA neurons. Similarly, the undifferentiated cells present in iPS cell population can result in development of tumor and restrict their utilization clinically. Currently, it has been reported that by incorporating different sort of mixtures of the transcription factors Nurr1 (Nr4a2), Mash1 (Ascl1), Ngn2, Sox2, Lmx1a, and Pitx3 and reprogramming them with fibroblast result in DA neurons production [155, 156, 157]. Caiazoo et al. proposed that DA neurons can be reprogrammed directly from human and mouse fibroblasts by the action of three transcription factors, Nurr1 (Nr4a2), Lmx1a, and Mash1 (Ascl1). These directly reprogrammed DA neurons have similar activity as DA neurons [155] Kim et al. [157] proposed that DA neurons that are similar to midbrain DA neurons express the neuron marker Pitx3 and are generated by the lentiviral expression of eight transcription factors EN1, Nurr1, Lmx1a, Mytl1, Acsl1, Brn2, Lmx1b, Pitx3. To generate DA neurons from fibroblast, two of these transcription factors are important, and these include Pitx3 and Acsl1. The directly converted DA neuron thus formed appear to function in PD mouse models [158]. The transcription factors that were responsible for generating neural progenitor cells (NPCs) from fibroblasts were amalgamated along with culture medium having SHH and FGF8 in it, by Kim et al. [158] As a result, DA neurons releasing dopamine and expressing TH were generated successfully [157].

There are certain issues regarding to whether directly reprogrammed DA neurons are harmless and risk free for utilization in clinics or not. Anyhow, proceeding approaches in the studies will ultimately surpass these concerns and put forward these neurons to clinical experiments and trials for PD.

An Outlook on Future of Stem Cell Therapy For PD

Immune rejections and ethical concerns are the major issues regarding the use of hESCs, NSCs and DA neurons obtained from fetal brain. However, autologous cell therapy for PD served the purpose of generating iPSCs and iDA neurons. Still, there are a number of concerns regarding the utilization of iPSCs for clinical purposes which need to be sorted out, including genetic and epigenetic aberrations, limited production, and degree of safety of iPSCs-derived cells.

Limited production

Fully reprogrammed cells have less productivity. But this will continue to become better and it is expected that its production will increase in future. VPA and additional chemicals have enhanced the production by 0.05% [159, 128] Yamanaka et al. established a random model, in which he proposed that almost all or many of the differentiated cells possess the ability to be transformed into iPSCs. Nevertheless, they are generated from fibroblast cells, yet they are also generated from a wide range of cells of the three types of cell lines, which include endodermal, mesodermal and ectodermal cells. Stadtfeld et al [101, 144] utilized cells of liver; Aoi et al. [160] utilized cells from liver and stomach; Aasen et al. [161] utilized cells obtained from adult human hairs. This shows cells can be obtained from any part of adult human and have different productivities through experiments. Aasen et al. [161] proposed that iPSCs generated from keratinocytes, obtained from adult human hairs, were not indistinct from ESCs and were 100 times more efficacious in comparision to reprogramming of human fibroblasts [161]. Future should focus on the aims to increase the production of iPSCs and also to focus more on identifying the efficacious methods of generation of iPSCs.

Genetic and Epigenetic Abberations

Epigenetic memory in iPSCs and iDA neurons on cell fates are noteworthy issues. They are linked to their originators or else sustaining marks of reprogramming after differentiation [162, 16]. Reprogramming techniques done by using reteroviruses or lentiviruses should be substitutes by vectors which are nonintegrating, in order to associate with smaller molecules or else for the expression of reprogramming genes, for the production of iPS cells that are clinically useful [164]. There are a few PD patients-derived iPSCs which has a number of gene mutations in it, chromosomal structure mutations, point mutations, gene duplications, and SNCA genes deletion, Parkin, LRRK2, GBA or more [142, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169]. It was proposed that iPSCs having SNCA mutation (A53T) can be corrected by zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN)-mediated nuclease method and genetic repair of the A53T mutation in iPSCs from PD patients did not influence the property to transform into DA neurons. Properly rectified iPSC lines from PD patients were confirmed by sequencing analysis and PCR genotyping. LRRK2 G2019S mutation were repaired and this resulted in phenotypic release in transformed cells [142].

Degree of Harmlessness and Stem Cell Purity

In order to generate DA neurons or NSCs from iPSCs for the management of PD, it is important that the population of untransformed or undifferentiated cells are lower than 1% in order to be protected against tumor development post-transplantation. FACS and other non-invasive magnetic selection are the sorting out techniques generated for the cells obtained from iPSCs. Furthermore, culture medium of cells should be without feeder cells to escape animal contagion. Presently, feeder cells obtained from murine sources are utilized to retain hiPSCs and hESCs. Additionally, culture environment which has fetal bovine serum (FBS) in it, is generally utilized for culturing the feeder cells. It will result in allogenic cell contagion of cells generated from iPSC. A current study generated a system free of feeder cells for culturing the iPSCs and hESCs in the StemFit™ medium, making a huge initiative for the production of GMP-standard cells feasible for clinical use [170].

Is stem cell therapy a better control of symptoms or a cure?

There are many articles and researches enlightening the advantages of stem cell therapy and promises a better cure of PD. The aim of stem cell therapy is not only to restore the lost dopaminergic neurons but also to halt the disease progression. The best achievement that can ever be achieved is the repair of striatal dopaminergic innervation to the normal range. Fetal mid brain allograft has shown some improvement in patients lifestyle and functional activity but still, it is not providing a cure [17]. Even if the dopamine neurotransmitters are restored, it will again be a question whether it will be effective in every advanced PD. We have given a proposed model regarding our findings in Figure 1 as a summary.

Conclusion

The occurrence of PD is increasing day by day, because of the growing population of elderly. Its commercial and psychological influences on the wellbeing of population as well as on those close relatives and friends of the patients afflicted with PD seem to be profound. Several treatments are available but none of them have proved to be beneficial in decreasing the loss of DA neurons or in reestablishing the normal levels of DA in striatum. There are however a number of drugs for treating PD, but these are either costly or have dangerous adverse effects. Currently, researches have proposed propitious methods in place of drug therapies, including stem cell grafting and gene therapy for PD and other neurodegenerative therapies. Studies are performed on the use of all cell sources derived – fetal NSCs, ESCs, iPSCs and iDA neurons in different animal and human models. NSCs transformed into DA neurons in PD rat models as well as in placebo-controlled trials, double-blind studies and clinical trials have proved to produce noteworthy therapeutic effects. However, graft induced dyskinesia were observed which were probably due the presence of serotonin neurons among NSC population can be prevented by using homogenous population of cells. Regarding hESCs, Clinical trials have not been performed yet for the treatment of PD, though in vitro studies have shown that they transformed into DA neurons and improved motor deficits in animal models. Matter of concerns however, are:

i. the stability in physical composition of DA neurons posttransplantation, and

ii. concerns regarding hESCs that remain undifferentiated that have the potential for tumor development.

Figure 1: A proposed model of various techniques applied to enhance dopaminergic outflow

Moreover, there are ethical concerns as well. Researchers are on the way to great success in the generation iPSC derived cells for treating PD. Though, no clinical trials have yet been performed for PD, but they have proved therapeutically effective in animal models. There are, however, restrictions and drawbacks associated with iPSCs. Ethical concerns are also a problem. To understand their entity and survival rates for treating PD, pre-clinical studies might also be needed. Unless further studied and the degree of their efficiency and harmlessness is established, iPSCs should not be brought to clinical trials. Undifferentiated cells in iPSCs have risks of tumor production, therefore, researchers are working in carrying out direct production of DA neurons. Successful approaches are made which show that directly induced DA neurons (iDA) can be obtained from mouse and human fibroblasts by adding transcription factors into them. Among the transcription factors, two of them play an important role and these include Pitx3 and Ascl1.Currently, researchers are working on most of these recent stem cell therapies, with majority being performed only on animal models, thus, degree of harmlessness and efficiency must be satisfactorily determined and ethical issues must also be resolved. Nevertheless, recent therapies and their advancements described in this review provide us with hopes that efficient treatments for PD will soon be established (Figure 1).

Ethical Statement

1. Funding: (if any): self

2. Conflict of Interest: Nil

3. Ethical approval: Not required

4. Informed consent: Not required

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