Mini Review |
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Authors: | Caterina Bianco Nicola Normanno David S. Salomon Fortunato Ciardiello |
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Affiliation: | 1. Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health Bethesda MD USA 20892;2. Oncologia Sperimentale D Istituto Tumori Napoli-Fondazione Pascale 80131 Napoli Italy;3. Cattedra di Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento Medico-Chirurgico di Internistica Clinica e Sperimentale "F Magrassi e A Lanzara" Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli Via S. Pansini 5-80131 Napoli Italy |
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Abstract: | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by loss of both upper and lower motor neurons. ALS progression is complex and likely due to cellular dysfunction at multiple levels, including mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, axonal dysfunction, reactive astrocytosis, and mutant superoxide dismutase expression, therefore, treatment must provide neuronal protection from multiple insults. A significant amount of ALS research focuses on growth factor-based therapies. Growth factors including insulin-like growth factor-I, vascular endothelial growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial-derived neurotrophic factor exhibit robust neuroprotective effects on motor neurons in ALS models. Issues concerning growth factor delivery, stability and unwanted side effects slow the transfer of these treatments to human ALS patients. Stem cells represent a new therapeutic approach offering both cellular replacement and trophic support for the existing population. Combination therapy consisting of stem cells expressing beneficial growth factors may provide a comprehensive treatment for ALS. |
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Keywords: | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis growth factors stem cells gene therapy |
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