Parkinson's Disease

INTRODUCTION

Parkinson's disease: Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects an individual’s motor system.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, after Alzheimer's disease. It is a progressive disorder caused by the death of nerve cells in the brain, leading to damage in the central nervous system over time.
The development of PD is thought to be a result of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, which are not yet fully understood.

SYMPTOMS

The four main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:

Tremor in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
Slow movement
Trouble in balance and coordination which sometimes can lead to falls

Other symptoms that may also be present:

Emotional changes such as becoming depressed
Difficulty in swallowing, chewing, and speaking
Urinary problems or constipation
Skin problems

WHAT CAUSES THE DISEASE?

Parkinson's disease is caused by the gradual loss of cells in the substantia nigra of the brain, which is responsible for producing dopamine, a chemical messenger that coordinates activity between different regions of the brain.

The insufficient levels of dopamine in the striatum lead to the nerve cells in this region firing uncontrollably, making it difficult for the individual to control their movements.

As the disease progresses, other areas of the brain and nervous system also degenerate, resulting in more severe movement disorders.

The visualization of the dopamine pathway affected in Parkinson's patients

In healthy individuals, the autophagic process and lysosomal clearance help degrade proteins and debris in cells. However, in individuals with Parkinson's disease, these pathways are obstructed, leading to the accumulation of aggregated proteins.

The aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) proteins into clusters known as Lewy Bodies is believed to be toxic and can be transmitted from neuron to neuron, spreading the disease throughout the brain.

Furthermore, the interaction of α-syn with synaptobrevin-2 can result in synaptic dysfunction.

Illustration of the comparison between healthy and implicated pathways for α-syn toxicity

CURRENT TREATMENTS

Non-oral therapies:

Apomorphine
Duodopa

Medication:

Levodopa
Dopamine agonists
Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors
Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors

Surgery
Deep brain stimulation

Limitations of current treatment for Parkinson’s disease

WHAT WE OFFER?

EXOSOME THERAPY - CELLTIX

CelltiX is an extracted communicating vesicle derived from Umbilical Cord Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs). CelltiX is prepared in our state-of-the-art cGMP facility.

CelltiX is a new type of major paracrine factor released by MSCs into a culture medium playing an important function in a multitude of biological processes.

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STEM CELL THERAPY - CELLTIMAX

CelltiMax is Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) derived from human umbilical cords. Upon treatment, the cultured cells are injected intramuscularly / intravenously into the patient.

The cells are characterized by low immunogenicity. Hence, it is very safe, tolerable, and free of side effects. It has the capability to differentiate into specialized cells with specific functions for many parts of the body. They can reduce inflammation, repair, renew, regenerate, and replace damaged cells.

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COMPARISON BETWEEN STEM CELL EXOSOMES

Criterias	Stem Cells	Exosomes
Definitions	Stem cells are unspecialized cells of the human body	Extracellular vesicles, which is the medical term for tiny bubbles that are released from stem cells
Function	Unique, can become any type of cell, and they act as both building blocks and repair mechanisms in your body	Carry genetic information and proteins to cells throughout your body, and they create paths for communication between cells
Origins	Donor stem cells are placed in your body and are guided into becoming specific cells in the body to replace and repair diseased cells	Exosomes are extracted from donated human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and sterilized
Growth Factors	Less amount of growth factors compared to exosomes	Exosomes contain nearly three times the amount of growth factors. More growth factors mean a better ability to restore and revitalize target cells
Administration	IV Stem Cell Therapy (Intravenous administration) Intrathecal (directly into the spinal canal) Site injections into problem areas (Knee, hips, hands, etc)	Intravenous (IV) therapy Direct injection in the treatment area

BENEFITS OF OUR TREATMENTS

Stem Cell Therapy	Exosome Therapy
Improve bodies' natural healing abilities	High stabililty
Modulate the immune system	Low toxicity and immunogenicity
Locate and reduce areas of inflammation	High penetration
Replace damaged and diseased cells	Enhanced delivery efficiency

HOW IT WORKS?

Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell therapy mainly aims to replace the destroyed brain cells in individuals with Parkinson’s disease with healthy, undifferentiated stem cells.

The stem cells then differentiate into brain cells and aid in regulating dopamine levels thus, this can relieve many symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Overview of how stem cell therapy helps treat Parkinson's disease

Exosome Therapy

Exosome therapy on the other hand, mainly focuses on reducing intracellular α-syn levels.

Alternatively, levels of α-syn proteins are reduced through fusion with lysosomes for degradation or encompassed into autophagosomes and then degraded via the traditional autophagic pathway following fusion with lysosomes to produce the autophagolysosome. In addition, amphisomes can also be degraded by the lysosome.

Overview of how exosome therapy helps lower levels of a-syn proteins

TALK TO US

If you feel we might be able to offer meaningful improvement to both your condition and your quality of life, then please reach out to schedule a free consultation with one of our in-house clinical experts. We offer consultations in both Malay and English.