| Karolinska Institute
The group led by Dr. Arenas focuses on studying the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and
devising cell and gene based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This group has
performed cell engineering and transplantation experiments since 1992 and has studied the role of neurotrophic
factors in different systems (Nature, 1994, Science, 1995, Nature 1996, Neuron 1998). Since 1996, most
of the activity in the group has focused on the development of stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease (J
Neurosci 2001; MCN 2002). We are currently working with mouse and human embryonic stem cells, neural
stem cells and adult stem cells. The group has developed a protocol to promote a coordinated differentiation
of neural stem cells into dopaminergic neurons (Nature Biotech 1999) and subsequently has focused on the
identification and characterization of novel signals involved in promoting the acquisition of a dopaminergic
phenotype in diverse types of stem and progenitor cells (in preparation). The lab combines expertise in protein
chemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology, transgenic animals, cell transplantation, animal models
of Parkinson’s disease, neurochemistry, histology and behavioral analysis.
Key references
1. Åkerud P., Alberch. J., Eketjäll S., Wagner J. and Arenas E. (1999). Journal of Neurochemistry, 73: 70-78.
2. Wagner J., Åkerud P., Castro D., Holm P C., Canals J M., Snyder E Y., Perlmann T. and Arenas E. (1999). Nature
Biotechnology, 17: 653-659.
3. Åkerud P., Canals J., Snyder E.Y. and Arenas E. (2001). Journal of Neuroscience, 21: 8108-8118.
4. Åkerud P., Holm P.C., Castelo-Branco G., Sousa K., Rodriguez FJ. and Arenas E. (2002). Molecular and Cellular
Neuroscience, 21: 505-222.
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