scholarly journals Parkinson’s disease and translational research

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Dinter ◽  
Theodora Saridaki ◽  
Leonie Diederichs ◽  
Heinz Reichmann ◽  
Björn H. Falkenburger
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Translational Research ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Therapeutic Options ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is diagnosed when patients exhibit bradykinesia with tremor and/or rigidity, and when these symptoms respond to dopaminergic medications. Yet in the last years there was a greater recognition of additional aspects of the disease including non-motor symptoms and prodromal states with associated pathology in various regions of the nervous system. In this review we discuss current concepts of two major alterations found during the course of the disease: cytoplasmic aggregates of the protein α-synuclein and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. We provide an overview of new approaches in this field based on current concepts and latest literature. In many areas, translational research on PD has advanced the understanding of the disease but there is still a need for more effective therapeutic options based on the insights into the basic biological phenomena.

scholarly journals Multi-parameter Behavioral Phenotyping of the MPP+ Model of Parkinson’s Disease in Zebrafish

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Christensen ◽  
Haraldur Þorsteinsson ◽  
Valerie Helene Maier ◽  
Karl Ægir Karlsson
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Drug Effects ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Movement Frequency ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms ◽  
Drug Free

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been modeled in several animal species using the neurotoxins 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its oxidized product 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). MPP+ selectively kills dopaminergic neurons in pars compacta of the substantia nigra, inducing parkinsonian symptoms in animals. Typically, neurotoxicity models of PD in zebrafish assess acute drug effects on locomotion. In the present study, we examined the lasting effects of MPP+ exposure and drug treatment in zebrafish larvae. Larvae were incubated in 500 μM MPP+, from 1 to 5 days post fertilization (dpf), followed by 24 h drug-free acclimation. At 6 dpf, the behavior was analyzed for locomotion, thigmotaxis, and sleep. Next, in separate assays we assessed the drug effects of brain injected glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA), co-incubated with MPP+. We show that MPP+ exposure consistently reduces swim distance, movement frequency, and cumulative time of movement; thus mimicking a parkinsonian phenotype of reduced movement. In contrast, MPP+ exposed larvae demonstrate reduced anxiety-like behavior and exhibit a sleep phenotype inconsistent with human PD: the larvae display longer sleep bouts, less sleep fragmentation, and more sleep. Previously reported rescuing effects of PBA were not replicated in this study. Moreover, whereas GDNF attenuated the sleep phenotype induced by MPP+, PBA augmented it. The current data suggest that MPP+ exposure generates a multifaceted phenotype in zebrafish and highlights that analyzing a narrow window of data can reveal effects that may be inconsistent with longer multi-parameter approaches. It further indicates that the model generally captures motor symptoms more faithfully than non-motor symptoms.

scholarly journals Could Small Heat Shock Protein HSP27 Be a First-Line Target for Preventing Protein Aggregation in Parkinson’s Disease?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3038
Author(s):  
Javier Navarro-Zaragoza ◽  
Lorena Cuenca-Bermejo ◽  
Pilar Almela ◽  
María-Luisa Laorden ◽  
María-Trinidad Herrero
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Stress Proteins ◽  
Small Heat Shock Protein ◽  
Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Dopaminergic Drugs ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

Small heat shock proteins (HSPs), such as HSP27, are ubiquitously expressed molecular chaperones and are essential for cellular homeostasis. The major functions of HSP27 include chaperoning misfolded or unfolded polypeptides and protecting cells from toxic stress. Dysregulation of stress proteins is associated with many human diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD is characterized by the presence of aggregates of α-synuclein in the central and peripheral nervous system, which induces the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and in the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic dysfunction is an important non-motor phenotype of PD, which includes cardiovascular dysregulation, among others. Nowadays, the therapies for PD focus on dopamine (DA) replacement. However, certain non-motor symptoms with a great impact on quality of life do not respond to dopaminergic drugs; therefore, the development and testing of new treatments for non-motor symptoms of PD remain a priority. Since small HSP27 was shown to prevent α-synuclein aggregation and cytotoxicity, this protein might constitute a suitable target to prevent or delay the motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. In the first part of our review, we focus on the cardiovascular dysregulation observed in PD patients. In the second part, we present data on the possible role of HSP27 in preventing the accumulation of amyloid fibrils and aggregated forms of α-synuclein. We also include our own studies, highlighting the possible protective cardiac effects induced by L-DOPA treatment through the enhancement of HSP27 levels and activity.

scholarly journals Animal models of Parkinson's disease: a guide to selecting the optimal model for your research

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana Lama ◽  
Yazead Buhidma ◽  
Edward JR Fletcher ◽  
Susan Duty
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Animal Models ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Alpha Synuclein ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Multisystem Disorder ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms ◽  
Selection Of

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex, multisystem disorder characterised by alpha synuclein pathology, degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, multifactorial pathogenetic mechanisms and expression of a plethora of motor and non-motor symptoms. Animal models of PD have already been instructive in helping us unravel some of these aspects. However, much remains to be discovered, requiring continued interrogation by the research community. In contrast to the situation for many neurological disorders, PD benefits from of a wide range of available animal models (pharmacological, toxin, genetic and alpha-synuclein) but this makes selection of the optimal one for a given study difficult. This is especially so when a study demands a model that displays a specific combination of features. While many excellent reviews of animal models already exist, this review takes a different approach with the intention of more readily informing this decision-making process. We have considered each feature of PD in turn - aetiology, pathology, pathogenesis, motor dysfunctions and non-motor symptoms - highlighting those animal models that replicate each. By compiling easily accessible tables and figures, we aim to provide the reader with a simple, go-to resource for selecting the optimal animal model of PD to suit their research needs.

scholarly journals CuNA: Cumulant-based Network Analysis of genotype-phenotype associations in Parkinson's Disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aritra Bose ◽  
Daniel E. Platt ◽  
Niina Haiminen ◽  
LAXMI PARIDA
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Clinical Phenotype ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Phenotype Data ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder characterized by loss of striatal dopaminergic neurons. Progression of PD is usually captured by a host of clinical features represented in different rating scales. PD diagnosis is associated with a broad spectrum of non-motor symptoms such as depression, sleep disorder as well as motor symptoms such as movement impairment, etc. The variability within the clinical phenotype of PD makes detection of the genes associated with early onset PD a difficult task. To address this issue, we developed CuNA, a cumulant-based network analysis algorithm that creates a network from higher-order relationships between eQTLs and phenotypes as captured by cumulants. We also designed a multi-omics simulator, CuNAsim to test CuNA's qualitative accuracy. CuNA accurately detects communities of clinical phenotypes and finds genes associated with them. When applied on PD data, we find previously unreported genes INPP5J, SAMD1 and OR4K13 associated with symptoms of PD affecting the kidney, muscles and olfaction. CuNA provides a framework to integrate and analyze RNA-seq, genotype and clinical phenotype data from complex diseases for more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic solutions in personalized medicine. CuNA and CuNAsim binaries are available upon request.

scholarly journals Microbiota and Parkinson's disease (overview)

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
R. R. Tyutina ◽  
A. A. Pilipovich ◽  
V. L. Golubev ◽  
Al. B. Danilov
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Substantia Nigra ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Alpha Synuclein ◽  
Intestinal Wall ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by both motor (hypokinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, postural instability) and non-motor symptoms. It is known that some non-motor manifestations, such as disturbances in smell, sleep, depression, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and others, may precede motor symptoms. Replenishment of dopamine deficiency, which, as known, develops in PD due to the death of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, makes it possible to influence most motor and some non-motor symptoms of parkinsonism, however many non-motor manifestations remain resistant to this therapy. In addition, it has only a symptomatic effect, and the pathogenetic treatment of PD is currently unavailable, which is primarily due to insufficient knowledge about the etiology and mechanisms of the development of the disease. In particular, it has already been established that alpha synuclein (a pathomorphological marker of PD) begins to be deposited in the intestinal wall, in the enteric nervous system (ENS) long before it appears in neurons of the substantia nigra. Understanding the mechanism of interaction along the axis “intestine – brain”, the role of intestinal wall dysfunction in the onset and development of PD can lead to the development of new directions in the treatment of this disease. Today, the role of microbiota, in particular the intestinal microbiota, in the functioning of the human body, its various systems, including the nervous system, is widely studied in the world. The influence of its imbalance on the activation of inflammatory reactions in the ENS and the possibility of the subsequent development of PD are considered. This review provides some evidence supporting the hypothesis that PD can be initiated in the gut. In addition, the possibilities of influencing the course of BP using pre-, pro-, syn- and metabiotics are considered.

α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease: Does a Prion-Like Mechanism of Propagation from Periphery to the Brain Play a Role?

2020 ◽  
pp. 107385842094318
Author(s):  
Huimin Zheng ◽  
Changhe Shi ◽  
Haiyang Luo ◽  
Liyuan Fan ◽  
Zhihua Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Lewy Bodies ◽  
Cellular Level ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Lewy Neurites ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms ◽  
The Brain

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, defined as motor and non-motor symptoms associated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons and a decreased release of dopamine (DA). Currently, PD patients are believed to have a neuropathological basis denoted by the presence of Lewy bodies (LBs) or Lewy neurites (LNs), which mostly comprise α-synuclein (α-syn) inclusions. Remarkably, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that the inclusions undergo template-directed aggregation and propagation via template-directed among the brain and peripheral organs, mainly in a prion-like manner. Interestingly, some studies reported that an integral loop was reminiscent of the mechanism of Parkinson’s disease, denoting that α-syn as prionoid was transmitted from the periphery to the brain via specific pathways. Also the systematic life cycle of α-syn in the cellular level is illustrated. In this review, we critically assess landmark evidence in the field of Parkinson’s disease with a focus on the genesis and prion-like propagation of the α-syn pathology. The anatomical and cell-to-cell evidences are discussed to depict the theory behind the propagation and transferred pathways. Furthermore, we highlight effective therapeutic perspectives and clinical trials targeting prion-like mechanisms. Major controversies surrounding this topic are also discussed.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Applications of Botulinum Neurotoxin for Autonomic Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: An Updated Review

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Steven D. Mitchell ◽  
Christos Sidiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Botulinum Neurotoxin ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Gastrointestinal Dysfunction ◽  
Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction ◽  
Autonomic Symptoms ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms

Parkinson’s disease is the most common age-related motoric neurodegenerative disease. In addition to the cardinal motor symptoms of tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and postural instability, there are numerous non-motor symptoms as well. Among the non-motor symptoms, autonomic nervous system dysfunction is common. Autonomic symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease include sialorrhea, hyperhidrosis, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and urinary dysfunction. Botulinum neurotoxin has been shown to potentially improve these autonomic symptoms. In this review, the varied uses of botulinum neurotoxin for autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease are discussed. This review also includes discussion of some additional indications for the use of botulinum neurotoxin in Parkinson’s disease, including pain.

scholarly journals Physiological and pathological changes in the enteric nervous system of rotenone-exposed mice as early biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Schaffernicht ◽  
Qi Shang ◽  
Alicia Stievenard ◽  
Kai Bötzel ◽  
Yanina Dening ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Nervous System ◽  
Enteric Neurons ◽  
Oral Exposure ◽  
Motor Symptoms ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Non Motor Symptoms ◽  
Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitor

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is known to involve the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the enteric nervous system (ENS). Functional changes in PNS and ENS appear early in the course of the disease and are responsible for some of the non-motor symptoms observed in PD patients like constipation, that can precede the appearance of motor symptoms by years. We have shown that environmental toxins can trigger the disease by acting on the ENS and on the autonomic nervous system. Oral exposure to the pesticide rotenone, a mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor, leads to decreased stool depositions in mice. Here we analyzed the effect of rotenone on the function and structure of the ENS by measuring intestinal contractility in a tissue bath and by analyzing related protein expression. Our results show that rotenone changes the normal physiological response of the intestine to carbachol, dopamine and electric field stimulation. The magnitude and direction of these alterations varies between intestinal regions and exposure times and is associated with an early up-regulation of dopaminergic, cholinergic and adrenergic receptors and an irregular reduction in the amount of enteric neurons in rotenone-exposed mice. The early appearance of these alterations makes them ideal candidates to be used as biomarkers for the detection of Parkinson’s disease in its early stages.

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