Neurotrophic Factors, Encapsulated Cells, and ALS

摘要: Publisher Summary Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the atrophy and death of affected motoneurons with a marked dissolution nuclei cytoplasm. This chapter considers three different aspects ALS—the mechanism leading to cell death, selective loss motor neurons, protracted course motoneuron degeneration. One common hallmarks in several degenerative diseases, including sporadic familial ALS, infantile spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary sensory neuropathy, aberrant accumulation neurofilaments (NF) motoneurons. Neurotrophic factors (NTF) play critical role supporting survival differentiation various neuronal population. Motoneurons respond variety NTFs, namely insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurturin. Neuronal hold promise for treatment neurodegenerative diseases. The presence blood-brain barrier, however, represents major hurdle delivery central nervous system (CNS). A technique involving intrathecal implantation polymer encapsulated cell-lines genetically engineered release provides means continuously deliver directly within CNS.