Dr. Dipnarine Maharaj Discusses Adult Stem Cell Breakthroughs in Parkinson’s

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Dipnarine Maharaj

Dipnarine Maharaj during the apheresis process

The South Florida Bone Marrow Stem Cell Transplant Institute, under the direction of Medical Director and this Clinical Trial Principal Investigator, Dipnarine Maharaj MD, FACP, is studying the neuroprotective effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in several neurological disease models including Parkinson’s disease (PD).  The present study is an extension of his previously published work which reported on the therapeutic effect of G-CSF after the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD in mice was established.

Based on the mouse model, he found that G-CSF treatment markedly increased the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of the G-CSF-treated group. Consistent with this finding, he found a significant increase in dopamine release under high K+ stimulation in the striatum of the G-CSF-treated animals compared to the MPTP-exposed mice.

Finally, he observed a persistent recovery of locomotor function in the G-CSF-treated animals. These results suggest the potential therapeutic value of G-CSF in treating PD, which he wishes to study further on humans with funding.

 

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