Reprogrammed Glia Improve Symptoms in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s

By converting glial cells into dopaminergic neurons, scientists were able to partially rescue motor behavior in mice.

Written byDiana Kwon

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Parkinson’s, a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects the motor system, is marked by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. While current treatments are aimed at replenishing dopamine levels, none are able to restore the lost cells. Now, scientists have devised a way to reprogram glial cells into active dopamine neurons that can partially restore motor function in a mouse model of Parkinson’s. This proof-of-principle study could pave the way to a new treatment for the disease, researchers reported today (April 10) in Nature Biotechnology.

“In Parkinson’s disease, dopamine neurons die, but at the same time, because of inflammation . . . some glial cells become reactive and proliferate,” said coauthor Ernest Arenas, a molecular neurobiologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. “So ...

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Meet the Author

Diana Kwon
Diana is a freelance science journalist who covers the life sciences, health, and academic life. She’s a regular contributor to The Scientist and her work has appeared in several other publications, including Scientific American, Knowable, and Quanta. Diana was a former intern at The Scientist and she holds a master’s degree in neuroscience from McGill University. She’s currently based in Berlin, Germany.
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