Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a devastating disorder, stealing vitality from vibrant, productive adults & draining our health care dollars. It is also an excellent model for studying other neurodegenerative conditions. We have discovered that human neural stem cells (hNSCs) may exert a significant beneficial impact in the most authentic, representative, & predictive animal model of actual human PD (the adult African/St. Kitts Green Monkeys exposed systemically to the neurotoxin MPTP). Interestingly, we have learned that, while some of the hNSCs differentiate into replacement dopamine (DA) neurons, much of the therapeutic benefit derived from a stem cell action we discovered called the “Chaperone Effect” – even hNSC-derived cells that do not become DA neurons contributed to the reversal of severe Parkinsonian symptoms by protecting endangered host DA neurons & their connections, restoring equipoise to the host nigrostriatal system, and reducing pathological hallmark of PD. While the ultimate goal may someday be to replace dead DA neurons, the Chaperone Effect represents a more tractable near-term method of using cells to address this serious condition. However, many questions remain in the process of developing these cellular therapeutic candidates. A major question is what is the best (safest, most efficacious) way to generate hNSCs? Directly from the fetal brain? From human embryonic stem cells? From skin cells reprogrammed to act like stem cells? Also, would benefits be even greater if, in addition to harnessing the Chaperone Effect, the number of stem cell-derived DA neurons was also increased? And could choosing the right stem cell type &/or providing the right supportive molecules help achieve this? This international study – which involves scientists from California, Madrid, Melbourne -- has been seeking to answer these questions. Importantly, we have been doing so using the most representative model of human PD, a model that not only mimics all of the human symptomatology but also all the side-effects of treatment; inattention to this latter aspect plagued earlier clinical trials in PD. A successful therapy for PD would not only be of great benefit for the many patients who now suffer from the disease, or who are likely to develop it as they age, but the results will help with other potential disease applications due to greater understanding of stem cell biology (particularly the Chaperone Effect, which represents “low hanging fruit”) as well as their potential complications and side effects.
To date, we have transplanted nearly 40 Parkinsonian non-human primates (NHPs) with a range of the different stem cell types described above. We have been able to generate neurons from some of these stem cells that appear to have the characteristics of the desired A9-type midbrain dopaminergic neuron lost in PD. Following transplantation, some of these stem cell derivatives appear to survive, integrate, & behave like dopaminergic neurons. Preliminary behavioral analysis of some engrafted NHPs offers encouraging results, suggesting an improvement in the Parkinsonism score in some of the animals. These NHPs will need to be followed for 1 year to insure that improvement continues & that no adverse events intervene. Over the next year, more stem cell candidates will be tested as we further optimize their preparation & differentiation.
Reporting Period:
Year 2
We have made substantial progress in what will amount to the largest and most comprehensive head-to-head behavioral analysis of stem cell transplanted MPTP-NHPs to date and have identified cell types that show dramatic improvement in this model. Compared to the improvement observed with undifferentiated fetal CNS-derived hNSCs (the stem cell type in used Redmond et al, PNAS, 2007), 3 human stem cell candidates have shown a larger improvement in PS.
Summary of Achievements for this reporting period
• Comprehensive Behavioral data collection of 84 monkeys comprising over 10,000 observation data points
• Statistical analysis of Behavioral data collected to date identifies striking and statistically significant improvements in PS for several stem cell types. (Accordingly, NO-GO (or near NO-GO) cell types have been identified via comparison of levels of improvement or no improvement) [Figure 1]
• DNA samples collected in order to pursue the first ever complete genome sequencing of the Vervet in collaboration with the Washington University Genome Center
• Biochemistry sample processing and data collection of a 2nd large batch of samples completed.
Reporting Period:
Year 3
The identification and development of an ideal cell-based therapy for a complex neurodegenerative disease requires the rigorous evaluation of both efficacy and safety of different sources and subtypes of hNSCs. The objective of this project has been to fully evaluate and identify the optimal stem cell type for a cell based therapy for refractory Parkinson’s Disease (PD) using the systemically MPTP-lesioned Old World non-human primate (NHP) (the St. Kitts Green Monkey) the most authentic animal model of the actual human disease. Among a list of plausible potentially therapeutic stem cell sources, 7 candidates have been evaluated head-to-head. The intent has been that the stem cell type (and its derivatives) safely producing the largest improvement in behavioral scores (based on a well-established NHP PD score – the Parkinson’s Factor Score [PFS] or ParkScore (which closely parallels the Hoehn–Yahr scale used in human patients, and is an accurate functional read-out of nigrostriatal dopamine [DA] activity) -- as well as a Healthy Behaviors Score [HBS] (similar to the activities-of-daily-living [ADL] on the major Parkinson’s rating scale and allows quantification of adverse events) -- will be advanced towards IND-enabling studies, to an actual IND filing, and ultimately a clinical trial.
Candidate cells have been transplanted into specific sub-regions of the nigrostriatal pathway of MPTP-lesioned NHPs. Animals undergo behavioral scoring for analysis of severity of Parkinsonian behavior at multiple time points pre- and post-cell transplantation. At sacrifice, biochemical measurements of DA content are made. Tissue is also analyzed to determine the fate of donor cells; the status of the host nigrostriatal pathway; the number of alpha-synuclein aggregates; degree of inflammation; any evidence of adverse events (e.g., tumor formation, cell overgrowth, emergence of cells inappropriate to the CNS).
We have made substantial progress in what will amount to the largest and most comprehensive head-to-head analysis of stem cell transplanted into any disease model to date, let alone behavioral analysis into a primate model of PD. Behavioral data have been collected on ~100 monkeys comprising >10,000 observation data points. We have identified a single Developmental Candidate (DC) that shows consistent and dramatic improvement in severely Parkinsonian NHPs (i.e., a significant decrease in Parkinsonian symptoms over the entire evaluation period), reflecting a restitution of DA function – human embryonic stem cell (hESC-derived) ventral mesencephalic (VM) precursors. We also suggest adding a mechanism to these cells for insuring unambiguous safety and invariant lineage commitment (a construct already generated and inserted into this DC, and recently engrafted into some initial monkeys).
We believe are ready for IND-enabling studies, including additional long-term pre-clinical behavioral studies of hESC-derived hVM cells that bear the above-mentioned “safety construct” – combined with additional biochemical assays of DA metabolism, histological assessments, serial profiling to insure genomic stability. Scale-up conditions for this DC are defined and reproducible and a working cell bank has been established.
Reporting Period:
NCE
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a devastating disorder that is caused by the loss of a particular type of neuron in the brain. PD patients show movement abnormalities which worsen over time and significantly reduce the quality of life. Current treatments reduce the severity of these problems but very often the efficacy of these treatments gradually weakens over time leaving patients with few therapeutic options, some of which carry significant unwanted side effects. Since the development of growing undifferentiated human stem cells in the late 1990’s, much has been learned in regards to how to make these cells develop into neuronal cells, in particular the same type of neuron that is lost in a PD patient. Therefore, a cellular therapy has been envisioned for the treatment of PD, however, the complex nature of this disease requires higher level models in which potential therapies can be accurately evaluated before moving a therapy to clinical trials.
Previous work using human fetal tissue showed improvement of PD symptoms in an animal model and human clinical trials, however, distinctive movement abnormalities arose from the use of this treatment and combined with the ethical issues, it is not a viable therapeutic strategy. Recent work suggests that the use of embryonic stem cells for the treatment of PD may be possible but a direct comparison of the different types of cells derived from these was lacking. Additionally, tumors caused by these cells have been reported.
Our research efforts funded by this CIRM award allowed us to complete the largest stem cell therapy comparison for PD using the most accurate disease model available. Over the last 3 years we have evaluated the efficacy of 8 potential therapeutic cell types and 2 control cell types (in addition to various other control groups to rule out any possibility that the observations may have resulted from something other than cells). From these efforts we have confidently identified a strategy for producing cells that show a dramatic reduction in the PD symptoms in this model and these cells will be developed for clinical trials. Furthermore, we have incorporated a critical step for ensuring the safety of this cell therapy by including a purification technique that removes cells that may give rise to tumors or produce unknown or unwanted effects.
Grant Application Details
Application Title:
Developmental Candidates for Cell-Based Therapies for Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Public Abstract:
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a devastating disorder, stealing vitality from vibrant, productive adults & draining our health care dollars. It is also an excellent model for studying other neurodegenerative conditions. We have discovered that human neural stem cells (hNSCs) may exert a significant beneficial impact in the most authentic, representative, & predictive animal model of actual human PD. Interestingly, we have learned that, while some of the hNSCs differentiate into replacement dopamine (DA) neurons, much of the therapeutic benefit derived from a stem cell action we discovered a called the “Chaperone Effect” – even hNSC-derived cells that do not become DA neurons contributed to the reversal of severe Parkinsonian symptoms by protecting endangered host DA neurons & their connections, restoring equipoise to the host nigrostriatal system, and reducing pathological hallmark of PD. While the ultimate goal may someday be to replace dead DA neurons, the Chaperone Effect represents a more tractable near-term method of using cells to address this serious condition. However, many questions remain in the process of developing these cellular therapeutic candidates. A major question is what is the best (safest, most efficacious) way to generate hNSCs? Directly from the fetal brain? From human embryonic stem cells? From skin cells reprogrammed to act like stem cells? Also, would benefits be even greater if, in addition to harnessing the Chaperone Effect, the number of stem cell-derived DA neurons was also increased? And could choosing the right stem cell type &/or providing the right supportive molecules help achieve this? This study seeks to answer these questions. Importantly, we will do so using the most representative model of human PD, a model that not only mimics all of the human symptomatology but also all the side-effects of treatment; inattention to this latter aspect plagued earlier clinical trials in PD. A successful therapy for PD would not only be of great benefit for the many patients who now suffer from the disease, or who are likely to develop it as they age, but the results will help with other potential disease applications due to greater understanding of stem cell biology (particularly the Chaperone Effect, which represents “low hanging fruit”) as well as their potential complications and side effects.
Statement of Benefit to California:
Not only is Parkinson's Disease (PD) a devastating disease in its own right-- impairing typically vibrant productive adults & draining our health care dollars -- but it is also an excellent model for studying other neurodegenerative diseases. We have discovered that stem cells may actually exert a beneficial impact independent of dopamine neuron replacement. As a result of a multiyear study performed by our team, implanting human neural stem cells (hNSCs) into the most authentic, representative, and predictive animal model of actual human PD, we learned that the cells could reverse severe Parkinsonian symptoms by protecting endangered host dopaminergic (DA) neurons, restoring equipoise to the cytoarchitecture, preserving the host nigrostriatal pathway, and reducing alpha-synuclein aggregations (a pathological hallmark of PD). This action, called the "Chaperone Effect" represents a more tractible near-term method of using cells to address an unmet medical need. However, many questions remain in the process of developing these cellular therapeutic candidates. A major question is what is the best (safest & most efficacious way) to generate hNSCs? Directly from the fetal brain? From human embryonic stem cells? From human induced pluripotent cells? Also, would benefits be even greater if, in addition to harnessing the Chaperone Effect, the number of donor-derived DA neurons was also increased? And could choosing the right stem cell type &/or providing the right supportive molecules help achieve this? This study seeks to answer these questions. Importantly, we will continue to use the most representative model of human PD to do so, a model that not only mimics all of the human symptomatology but also all the side-effects of treatment; inattention to this latter aspect plagued earlier clinical trials in PD. Because of the unique team enlisted, these studies can be done at a fraction of the normal cost, allowing for parsimony in the use of research dollars, clearly a benefit to California taxpayers. Not only might California patients benefit in terms of their well-being, and the economy benefit from productive adults re-entering the work force & aging adults remaining in the work force, but it is likely that new intellectual property will emerge that will provide additional financial benefit to California stakeholders, both citizens & companies.
