Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0030567 (Parkinson's disease)
 63,064 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine, CDP-choline or citicoline, is an essential intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of the structural phospholipids of cell membranes, especially in that of phosphatidylcholine. Upon oral or parenteral administration, CDP-choline releases its two principle components, cytidine and choline. When administered orally, it is absorbed almost completely, and its bioavailability is approximately the same as when administered intravenously. Once absorbed, the cytidine and choline disperse widely throughout the organism, cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the central nervous system (CNS), where they are incorporated into the phospholipid fraction of the membrane and microsomes. CDP-choline activates the biosynthesis of structural phospholipids in the neuronal membranes, increases cerebral metabolism and acts on the levels of various neurotransmitters. Thus, it has been experimentally proven that CDP-choline increases noradrenaline and dopamine levels in the CNS. Due to these pharmacological activities, CDP-choline has a neuroprotective effect in situations of hypoxia and ischemia, as well as improved learning and memory performance in animal models of brain aging. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that CDP-choline restores the activity of mitochondrial ATPase and of membranal Na+/K+ ATPase, inhibits the activation of phospholipase A2 and accelerates the reabsorption of cerebral edema in various experimental models. CDP-choline is a safe drug, as toxicological tests have shown; it has no serious effects on the cholinergic system and it is perfectly tolerated. These pharmacological characteristics, combined with CDP-choline's mechanisms of action, suggest that this drug may be suitable for the treatment of cerebral vascular disease, head trauma of varying severity and cognitive disorders of diverse etiology. In studies carried out on the treatment of patients with head trauma, CDP-choline accelerated the recovery from post-traumatic coma and the recuperation of walking ability, achieved a better final functional result and reduced the hospital stay of these patients, in addition to improving the cognitive and memory disturbances which are observed after a head trauma of lesser severity and which constitute the disorder known as postconcussion syndrome. In the treatment of patients with acute cerebral vascular disease of the ischemic type, CDP-choline accelerated the recovery of consciousness and motor deficit, attaining a better final result and facilitating the rehabilitation of these patients. The other important use for CDP-choline is in the treatment of senile cognitive impairment, which is secondary to degenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and to chronic cerebral vascular disease. In patients with chronic cerebral ischemia, CDP-choline improves scores on cognitive evaluation scales, while in patients with senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, it slows the disease's evolution. Beneficial neuroendocrine, neuroimmunomodulatory and neurophysiological effects have been described. CDP-choline has also been shown to be effective as co-therapy for Parkinson's disease. No serious side effects have been found in any of the groups of patients treated with CDP-choline, which demonstrates the safety of the treatment.
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PMID:CDP-choline: pharmacological and clinical review. 870 78

Dihydroergocryptine is an ergot alkaloid endowed with pharmacological actions mainly related to its dopaminomimetic activity. Free radical formation and subsequent lipid peroxidation had been postulated to participate broadly to the pathogenesis of tissue injury, including the brain injury induced by hypoxia, ischemia or trauma, as well as in the physiopathology of chronic neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease. Here we report that dihydroergocryptine protects cultured rat cerebellar granule cells against age-dependent and glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. Dihydroergocryptine antagonizes in fact both the neuronal death produced by acute exposure to a toxic glutamate concentration as well as the normal age-dependent degeneration in culture, presumably by exerting a scavenger action. This effect does not seem mediated entirely by interactions with the dopamine D2 receptors. The neuroprotective action of dihydroergocryptine suggests a potential usefulness in halting the acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases related to excitotoxic damage and free radical formation, including Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:The inhibition of peroxide formation as a possible substrate for the neuroprotective action of dihydroergocryptine. 874 38

Free radicals are thought to be involved in the onset of neuronal disturbances such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. It is also assumed that they play a role in cerebral injury caused by ischemia or trauma. Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), Total (peroxyl) Radical-trapping Antioxidant Parameter (TRAP), and the known antioxidant components of TRAP, for instance, ascorbic acid, uric acid, protein sulfhydryl groups, tocopherol, and ubiquinol were analyzed and the remaining unidentified fragment was calculated in five healthy volunteers before and after 4 weeks of ascorbate and ubiquinone (Q-10) supplementation. In CSF, TRAP was significantly lower than in plasma. The major contributor to plasma's antioxidant capacity was uric acid (UA), whereas in CSF it was ascorbic acid (AA). In CSF, AA concentrations were four times higher than in plasma. Oral supplementation of AA (500 mg/d first 2 weeks, 1,000 mg/d following 2 weeks) and Q-10 (100 mg/d first 2 weeks, 300 mg/d following 2 weeks) induced a significant increase in plasma AA and Q-10. Surprisingly, in spite of the high lipophilicity of Q-10, its concentration did not change in CSF. The supplementation of AA increased its concentration in CSF by 28% (p < .05). However, the increase in AA did not result in an increase in CSF TRAP. This indicates that AA had lost one-third of its radical trapping capacity as compared to that in plasma. The facts that AA is the highest contributor to CSF TRAP and its effect on TRAP is concentration dependent could indicate that the peroxyl radical-trapping capacity of CSF is buffered by AA.
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PMID:The effect of ascorbate and ubiquinone supplementation on plasma and CSF total antioxidant capacity. 881 36

Cerebrovascular disease exemplifies the poor regenerative capacity of the CNS. While there are methods to prevent cerebral infarction, there is no effective therapy available to ameliorate the anatomical, neurochemical and behavioral deficits which follow cerebral ischemia. Focal and transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in rodents has been reported to result in neuropathology similar to that seen in clinical cerebral ischemia. Using specific techniques, this MCA occlusion can result in a well-localized infarct of the striatum. This review article will provide data accumulated from animal studies using the MCA occlusion technique in rodents to examine whether neural transplantation can ameliorate behavioral and morphological deficits associated with cerebral infarction. Recent advances in neural transplantation as a treatment modality for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, have revealed that fetal tissue transplantation may produce neurobehavioral recovery. Accordingly, fetal tissue transplantation may provide a potential therapy for cerebral infarction. Preliminary findings in rodents subjected to unilateral MCA occlusion, and subsequently transplanted with fetal striatal tissue into the infarcted striatum have produced encouraging results. Transplanted fetal tissue, assessed immunohistochemically, has been demonstrated to survive and integrate with the host tissue, and, more importantly, ameliorate the ischemia-related behavioral deficits, at least in the short term. Although, this review will focus primarily on cerebral ischemia, characterized by a localized CNS lesion within the striatum, it is envisioned that this baseline data may be extrapolated and applied to cerebral infarction in other brain areas.
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PMID:Neural transplantation as an experimental treatment modality for cerebral ischemia. 899 11

The major neurodegenerative disorders include Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Although their etiology and pathogenesis are unknown, numerous recent studies suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role. Furthermore, these reactive oxygen species are probably important in brain ischemia and reperfusion, Down's syndrome, and the mitochondrial encephalopathies. In this review, evidence for oxygen-derived free radicals in the pathogenesis of these disorders is discussed.
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PMID:Reactive oxygen species and the neurodegenerative disorders. 899 53

p53, Bax and Bcl-xL proteins have been implicated in apoptotic neuronal cell death. We have investigated whether those proteins are involved in 6-OHDA-induced PC12 cell death. After a 24-h exposure to the neurotoxin (100 microM), morphological evidence for apoptosis was observed in PC12 cells. Up-regulation of p53 and Bax proteins was demonstrated 4 and 6 h, respectively, after 6-OHDA treatment; in contrast, no change in Bcl-xL levels was found. These findings suggest that p53 and Bax could be relevant markers of neuronal apoptosis as previously described in kainic acid- or ischemia-induced neuronal cell death and may participate to neuronal degeneration in Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:p53 and Bax activation in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. 909 77

Treatment strategies based on transfer of genes, molecules, or cells to the central nervous system are summarized. When neurons are already degenerated, functional compensation can be effected by grafts of syngeneic or allogenic tissue to the target area. This technique is undergoing clinical trials in Parkinson's disease. Before degeneration has occurred, it may be possible to rescue "stressed" neurons, and stimulate terminal outgrowth using treatment with neurotrophic factors. Such approaches, with an emphasis on the NGF family of neurotrophins and their receptors, are reviewed. Finally, new molecular biology techniques may permit the transfer of genes directly into non-dividing cells of the central nervous system. These three approaches may have a more general applicability, and become important not only in neurodegenerative diseases, but also in other afflictions of the nervous system such as ischemia, stroke and injury.
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PMID:Treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases based on trophic factors and cell transplantation techniques. 926 9

Dopamine can form reactive oxygen species and other reactive metabolites that can modify proteins and other cellular constituents. In this study, we tested the effect of dopamine oxidation products, other generators of reactive oxygen species, and a sulfhydryl modifier on the function of glutamate transporter proteins. We also compared any effects with those on the dopamine transporter, a protein whose function we had previously shown to be inhibited by dopamine oxidation. Preincubation with the generators of reactive oxygen species, ascorbate (0.85 mM) or xanthine (500 microM) plus xanthine oxidase (25 mU/ml), inhibited the uptake of [3H]glutamate (10 microM) into rat striatal synaptosomes (-54 and -74%, respectively). The sulfhydryl-modifying agent N-ethylmaleimide (50-500 microM) also led to a dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]glutamate uptake. Preincubation with dopamine (100 microM) under oxidizing conditions inhibited [3H]glutamate uptake by 25%. Exposure of synaptosomes to increasing amounts of dopamine quinone by enzymatically oxidizing dopamine with tyrosinase (2-50 U/ml) further inhibited [3H]glutamate uptake, an effect prevented by the addition of glutathione. The effects of free radical generators and dopamine oxidation on [3H]glutamate uptake were similar to the effects on [3H]dopamine uptake (250 nM). Our findings suggest that reactive oxygen species and dopamine oxidation products can modify glutamate transport function, which may have implications for neurodegenerative processes such as ischemia, methamphetamine-induced toxicity, and Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Inhibition of glutamate transport in synaptosomes by dopamine oxidation and reactive oxygen species. 928 42

Melatonin's actions in organisms are more widespread than originally envisaged. Over three decades ago, the changing pattern of nocturnal melatonin production was found to be the signal for the annual cycle of reproduction in photoperiodic species. Since then, melatonin's actions also have been linked to circadian rhythms, immune function, sleep, retinal physiology and endocrine functions in general. In recent years, however, the sphere of influence of melatonin was further expanded when the indole was found to be an effective free radical scavenger and antioxidant. Free radicals are toxic molecules, many being derived from oxygen, which are persistently produced and incessantly attack and damage molecules within cells; most frequently this damage is measured as peroxidized lipid products, carbonyl proteins, and DNA breakage or fragmentation. Collectively, the process of free radical damage to molecules is referred to as oxidative stress. Melatonin reduces oxidative stress by several means. Thus, the indole is an effective scavenger of both the highly toxic hydroxyl radical, produced by the 3 electron reduction of oxygen, and the peroxyl radical, which is generated during the oxidation of unsaturated lipids and which is sufficiently toxic to propagate lipid peroxidation. Additionally, melatonin may stimulate some important antioxidative enzymes, i.e., superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. In in vivo tests, melatonin in pharmacological doses has been found effective in reducing macromolecular damage that is a consequence of a variety of toxic agents, xenobiotics and experimental paradigms which induce free radical generation. In these studies, melatonin was found to significantly inhibit oxidative damage that is a consequence of paraquat toxicity, potassium cyanide administration, lipopolysaccharide treatment, kainic acid injection, carcinogen administration, carbon tetrachloride poisoning, etc., as well as reducing the oxidation of macromolecules that occurs during strenuous exercise or ischemia-reperfusion. In experimental models which are used to study neurodegenerative changes associated with Alzheimer's and Parkinson disease, melatonin was found to be effective in reducing neuronal damage. Its lack of toxicity and the ease with which melatonin crosses morphophysiological barriers and enters subcellular compartments are essential features of this antioxidant. Thus far, most frequently pharmacological levels of melatonin have been used to combat oxygen toxicity. The role of physiological levels of melatonin, which are known to decrease with age, is being investigated as to their importance in the total antioxidative defense capacity of the organism.
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PMID:Melatonin in relation to cellular antioxidative defense mechanisms. 928 72

Zinc is an important trace element in biology. An important pool of zinc in the brain is the one present in synaptic vesicles in a subgroup of glutamatergic neurons. In this form it can be released by electrical stimulation and may serve to modulate responses at receptors for a number of different neurotransmitters. These include both excitatory and inhibitory receptors, particularly the NMDA and GABA(A) receptors. This pool of zinc is the only form of zinc readily stained histochemically (the chelatable zinc pool), but constitutes only about 8% of the total zinc content in the brain. The remainder of the zinc is more or less tightly bound to proteins where it acts either as a component of the catalytic site of enzymes or in a structural capacity. The metabolism of zinc in the brain is regulated by a number of transport proteins, some of which have been recently characterized by gene cloning techniques. The intracellular concentration may be mediated both by efflux from the cell by the zinc transporter ZrT1 and by complexing with apothionein to form metallothlonein. Metallothionein may serve as the source of zinc for incorporation into proteins, including a number of DNA transcription factors. However, zinc is readily released from metallothionein by disulfides, increasing concentrations of which are formed under oxidative stress. Metallothionein is a very good scavenger of free radicals, and zinc itself can also reduce oxidative stress by binding to thiol groups, decreasing their oxidation. Zinc is also a very potent inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Increased levels of chelatable zinc have been shown to be present in cell cultures of immune cells undergoing apoptosis. This is very reminiscent of the zinc staining of neuronal perikarya dying after an episode of ischemia or seizure activity. Thus a possible role of zinc in causing neuronal death in the brain needs to be fully investigated. intraventricular injections of calcium EDTA have already been shown to reduce neuronal death after a period of ischemia. Pharmacological doses of zinc cause neuronal death, and some estimates indicate that extracellular concentrations of zinc could reach neurotoxic levels under pathological conditions. Zinc is released in high concentrations from the hippocampus during seizures. Unfortunately, there are contrasting observations as to whether this zinc serves to potentiate or decrease seizure activity. Zinc may have an additional role in causing death in at least some neurons damaged by seizure activity and be involved in the sprouting phenomenon which may give rise to recurrent seizure propagation in the hippocampus. In Alzheimer's disease, zinc has been shown to aggregate beta-amyloid, a form which is potentially neurotoxic. The zinc-dependent transcription factors NF-kappa B and Sp1 bind to the promoter region of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene. Zinc also inhibits enzymes which degrade APP to nonamyloidogenic peptides and which degrade the soluble form of beta-amyloid. The changes in zinc metabolism which occur during oxidative stress may be important in neurological diseases where oxidative stress is implicated, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Zinc is a structural component of superoxide dismutase 1, mutations in which give rise to one form of familiar ALS. After HIV infection, zinc deficiency is found which may be secondary to immune-induced cytokine synthesis. Zinc is involved in the replication of the HIV virus at a number of sites. These observations should stimulate further research into the role of zinc in neuropathology.
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PMID:Zinc metabolism in the brain: relevance to human neurodegenerative disorders. 936 Dec 93


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