Smart cells ‘can promote neuronal healing in Parkinson’s patients’

US scientists have created a new type of 'smart' white blood cell that can help neurons damaged by Parkinson's disease to heal themselves.

A team from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have genetically modified white blood cells called macrophages to produce glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and deliver it to the brain.

Glial cells can provide support and protection for nerve cells throughout the brain and body, while GDNF can heal and stimulate the growth of damaged neurons.

Additionally, these engineered macrophages can teach neurons to make the protein for themselves by delivering the DNA, messenger RNA and transcription factor necessary to kickstart this process.

Elena Batrakova, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina's Eshelman School of Pharmacy's Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, said: "Currently, there are no treatments that can halt or reverse the course of Parkinson's disease. There are only therapies to address quality of life, such as dopamine replacement."

Around one in 500 people are affected by Parkinson's disease, which means there are an estimated 127,000 sufferers in the UK.