| Literature DB >> 15852017 |
Mark H Tuszynski1, Leon Thal, Mary Pay, David P Salmon, Hoi Sang U, Roy Bakay, Piyush Patel, Armin Blesch, H Lee Vahlsing, Gilbert Ho, Gang Tong, Steven G Potkin, James Fallon, Lawrence Hansen, Elliott J Mufson, Jeffrey H Kordower, Christine Gall, James Conner.
Abstract
Cholinergic neuron loss is a cardinal feature of Alzheimer disease. Nerve growth factor (NGF) stimulates cholinergic function, improves memory and prevents cholinergic degeneration in animal models of injury, amyloid overexpression and aging. We performed a phase 1 trial of ex vivo NGF gene delivery in eight individuals with mild Alzheimer disease, implanting autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to express human NGF into the forebrain. After mean follow-up of 22 months in six subjects, no long-term adverse effects of NGF occurred. Evaluation of the Mini-Mental Status Examination and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subcomponent suggested improvement in the rate of cognitive decline. Serial PET scans showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in cortical 18-fluorodeoxyglucose after treatment. Brain autopsy from one subject suggested robust growth responses to NGF. Additional clinical trials of NGF for Alzheimer disease are warranted.Entities:
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Year: 2005 PMID： 15852017 DOI： 10.1038/nm1239
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Nat Med ISSN： 1078-8956 Impact factor: 53.440