Growth Factor Relieves Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

In a phase 1 clinical trial, a growth factor administered by catheter to the brains of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease produced an improvement in their motor skills as well as the ability to store dopamine, which helps the brain control muscles. The results were reported in the March 31, 2003, issue of Nature Medicine.

The growth factor used is a protein known as glial cell-line-derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF. Every day for 18 months, pumps pushed up to 40 micrograms of the protein into the putamen of the brain. There, it was absorbed by cells near the tip of the catheter and, the researchers suspect, drawn deeper into the brain where the dopamine-producing cells reside. After one year, the patients exhibited no serious side effects. The treatment also lessened the tremors caused by L-dopa. Tests measuring motor skills showed a 39% improvement, while tests measuring daily living activities showed a 61% improvement.

"What we're seeing is that GDNF either upregulated dopamine metabolism, or it has inspired sprouting (of cells),” said co-author Clive Svendsen, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA). "Either way, you've got more dopamine, which is good news.” The study was carried out at the Frenchay Hospital, Institute of Neurosciences, in Bristol (UK), coordinated by neurosurgeon Steven S. Gill and neurologist Peter Heywood.




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