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

We have previously linked families with autosomal-dominant, late-onset parkinsonism to chromosome 12p11.2-q13.1 (PARK8). By high-resolution recombination mapping and candidate gene sequencing in 46 families, we have found six disease-segregating mutations (five missense and one putative splice site mutation) in a gene encoding a large, multifunctional protein, LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2). It belongs to the ROCO protein family and includes a protein kinase domain of the MAPKKK class and several other major functional domains. Within affected carriers of families A and D, six post mortem diagnoses reveal brainstem dopaminergic degeneration accompanied by strikingly diverse pathologies. These include abnormalities consistent with Lewy body Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, nigral degeneration without distinctive histopathology, and progressive supranuclear palsy-like pathology. Clinical diagnoses of Parkinsonism with dementia or amyotrophy or both, with their associated pathologies, are also noted. Hence, LRRK2 may be central to the pathogenesis of several major neurodegenerative disorders associated with parkinsonism.
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PMID:Mutations in LRRK2 cause autosomal-dominant parkinsonism with pleomorphic pathology. 1554 3

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) belongs to the neurotrophin family which interacts with high-affinity protein kinase receptors (Trk) and the unselective p75(NGFR) receptor. The BDNF gene has a complex structure with multiple regulatory elements and four promoters that are differentially expressed in central or peripheral tissue. BDNF expression is regulated by neuronal activity or peripheral hormones. Neurotrophins regulate the survival and differentiation of neurons during development but growing evidence indicates that they are also involved in several functions in adulthood, including plasticity processes. BDNF expression in the central nervous system (CNS) is modified by various kinds of brain insult (stress, ischemia, seizure activity, hypoglycemia, etc.) and alterations in its expression may contribute to some pathologies such as depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Apart from very traumatic situations, the brain functioning is resilient to stress and capable of adaptive plasticity. Neurotrophins might act as plasticity mediators enhancing this trait which seems to be crucial in adaptive processes. In addition to documenting all of the topics mentioned above in the CNS, we review the state of the art concerning neurotrophins and their receptors, including our personal contribution which is essentially focused on the stress response.
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PMID:Physiology of BDNF: focus on hypothalamic function. 1557 56

Manganese (Mn) exposure causes manganism, a neurological disorder similar to Parkinson's disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which Mn induces dopaminergic neuronal cell death remains unclear. In the present study, we sought to investigate the key downstream apoptotic cell signaling events that contribute to Mn-induced cell death in mesencephalic dopaminergic neuronal (N27) cells. Mn exposure induced a dose-dependent increase in neuronal cell death in N27 cells. The cell death was accompanied by sequential activation of mitochondrial-dependent proapoptotic events, including cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation, but not caspase-8 activation, indicating that the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic cascade primarily triggers Mn-induced apoptosis. Notably, Mn treatment proteolytically activated protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), a member of a novel class of protein kinase C. The caspase-3 specific inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK) significantly blocked PKCdelta cleavage and its kinase activity, indicating that caspase-3 mediates the proteolytic activation. Cotreatment with the PKCdelta inhibitor rottlerin or the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK almost completely blocked Mn-induced DNA fragmentation. Additionally, N27 cells expressing a catalytically inactive PKCdelta(K376R) protein (PKCdelta dominant negative mutant) or a caspase cleavage resistant PKCdelta(D327A) protein (PKCdelta cleavage resistant mutant) were found to be resistant to Mn-induced apoptosis. To further establish the proapoptotic role of PKCdelta, RNA interference-mediated gene knockdown was performed. Small interfering RNA suppression of PKCdelta expression protected N27 cells from Mn-induced apoptotic cell death. Collectively, these results suggest that caspase-3-dependent proteolytic activation of PKCdelta plays a key role in Mn-induced apoptotic cell death.
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PMID:Protein kinase Cdelta is a key downstream mediator of manganese-induced apoptosis in dopaminergic neuronal cells. 1560 81

The use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) as a gasoline additive has raised health concerns and increased interest in understanding the neurotoxic effects of manganese. Chronic exposure to inorganic manganese causes Manganism, a neurological disorder somewhat similar to Parkinson's disease. However, the cellular mechanism by which MMT, an organic manganese compound, induces neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neuronal cells remains unclear. Therefore, we systematically investigated apoptotic cell-signaling events following exposure to 3-200 microM MMT in mesencephalic dopaminergic neuronal (N27) cells. MMT treatment resulted in a time- and dose-dependent increase in reactive oxygen species generation and cell death in N27 cells. The cell death was preceded by sequential activation of mitochondrial-dependent proapoptotic events including cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation, indicating that the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic cascade primarily triggers MMT-induced apoptotic cell death. Importantly, MMT induced proteolytic cleavage of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), resulting in persistently increased kinase activity. The proteolytic activation of PKCdelta was suppressed by treatment with 100 microM Z-VAD-FMK and 100 microM Z-DEVD-FMK, suggesting that caspase-3 mediates the proteolytic activation of PKCdelta. Pretreatment with 100 microM Z-DEVD-FMK and 5 microM rottlerin (a PKCdelta inhibitor) also significantly attenuated MMT-induced DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, overexpression of either the kinase inactive dominant negative PKCdelta(K376R) mutant or the caspase cleavage resistant PKCdelta(D327A) mutant rescued N27 cells from MMT-induced DNA fragmentation. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic cascade mediates apoptosis via proteolytic activation of PKCdelta in MMT-induced dopaminergic degeneration and suggest that PKCdelta may serve as an attractive therapeutic target in Parkinson-related neurological diseases.
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PMID:Blockade of PKCdelta proteolytic activation by loss of function mutants rescues mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT)-induced apoptotic cell death. 1568 13

Microglial activation and inflammation are associated with progressive neuronal apoptosis in neurodegenerative human brain disorders. We sought to investigate molecular signaling mechanisms that govern activation of microglia in apoptotic neuronal degeneration. We report here that the active form of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) was released into the serum-deprived media (SDM) of PC12 cells and other media of apoptotic neuronal cells within 2-6 h of treatment of the cells, and SDM and catalytic domain of recombinant MMP-3 (cMMP-3) activated microglia in primary microglia cultures as well as BV2 cells, a mouse microglia cell line. Both SDM and cMMP-3 induced generation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist but not IL-12 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, which are readily induced by lipopolysaccharide, in microglia, suggesting that there is a characteristic pattern of microglial cytokine induction by apoptotic neurons. Neither glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor nor anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta1, were induced. SDM and cMMP-3 extensively released TNF-alpha from microglia and activated the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway, and these microglial responses were totally abolished by preincubation with an MMP-3 inhibitor, NNGH [N-isobutyl-N-(4-methoxyphenylsulfonyl)-glycylhydroxamic acid]. MMP-3-mediated microglial activation mostly depended on ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) phosphorylation but not much on either JNK (c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase) or p38 activation. Conditioned medium of SDM- or cMMP-3-activated BV2 cells caused apoptosis of PC12 cells. These results strongly suggest that the distinctive signal of neuronal apoptosis is the release of active form of MMP-3 that activates microglia and subsequently exacerbates neuronal degeneration. Therefore, the release of MMP-3 from apoptotic neurons may play a major role in degenerative human brain disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Matrix metalloproteinase-3: a novel signaling proteinase from apoptotic neuronal cells that activates microglia. 1581 1

In most neurodegenerative disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, and Alzheimer disease, a massive neuronal cell death occurs as a consequence of an uncontrolled inflammatory response, where activated astrocytes and microglia and their cytotoxic agents play a crucial pathological role. Current treatments for these diseases are not effective. In the present study we investigate the effect of thiadiazolidinone derivatives, which have been recently suggested to play a role in neurodegenerative disorders. We have found that thiadiazolidinones are potent neuroprotector compounds. Thiadiazolidinones inhibited inflammatory activation of cultured brain astrocytes and microglia by diminishing lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric-oxide synthase, and inducible cyclooxygenase type 2 expression. In addition, thiadiazolidinones inhibited tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide production and, concomitantly, protected cortical neurons from cell death induced by the cell-free supernatant from activated microglia. The neuroprotective effects of thiadiazolidinones are completely inhibited by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma antagonist GW9662. In contrast the glycogen synthase kinase 3beta inhibitor LiCl did not show any effect. These findings suggest that thiadiazolidinones potently attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation and reduces neuronal death by a mechanism dependent of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation.
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PMID:Regulation of inflammatory response in neural cells in vitro by thiadiazolidinones derivatives through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation. 1581 69

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies. Previous reports have shown that alpha-synuclein deposited in brain tissue from individuals with synucleinopathy is extensively phosphorylated at Ser-129. Here, we investigate the role of phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein in the formation of inclusions involving synphilin-1 and parkin using site-directed mutagenesis to change Ser-129 of alpha-synuclein to alanine (S129A) to abolish phosphorylation at this site. Coexpression of wild-type alpha-synuclein and synphilin-1 in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells yielded cytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions with some features resembling Lewy bodies, whereas coexpression of S129A alpha-synuclein and synphlin-1 formed few or no inclusions. Moreover, coexpression of parkin with alpha-synuclein and synphilin-1 formed more ubiquitinated inclusions, but these inclusions decreased with expression of S129A alpha-synuclein instead of wild-type alpha-synuclein. Coimmunoprecipitation assays revealed a decreased interaction of S129A alpha-synuclein with synphilin-1 compared with wild-type alpha-synuclein. Expression of S129A alpha-synuclein instead of wild-type alpha-synuclein also decreased the association of synphilin-1 and parkin and subsequently reduced the parkin-mediated ubiquitination of synphilin-1 and the formation of ubiquitinated inclusions. Treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with H(2)O(2) increased alpha-synuclein phosphorylation and enhanced the formation of inclusions formed by coexpression of alpha-synuclein, synphilin-1, and parkin, whereas treatment with the casein kinase 2 inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole had the opposite affect. These results indicate that phosphorylation of alpha-synuclein at S129 may be important for the formation of inclusions in PD and related alpha synucleinopathies.
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PMID:Alpha-synuclein phosphorylation enhances eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion formation in SH-SY5Y cells. 1594 82

The NR4A1-3 (Nur77, NURR1 and NOR-1) subfamily of nuclear hormone receptors (NRs) has been implicated in Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, manic depression, atherogenesis, Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and apoptosis. This has driven investigations into the mechanism of action, and the identification of small molecule regulators, that may provide the platform for pharmaceutical and therapeutic exploitation. Recently, we found that the purine antimetabolite 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), which is widely used as an anti-neoplastic and anti-inflammatory drug, modulated the NR4A1-3 subfamily. Interestingly, the agonist-mediated activation did not involve modulation of primary coactivators' (e.g. p300 and SRC-2/GRIP-1) activity and/or recruitment. However, the role of the subsequently recruited coactivators, for example CARM-1 and TRAP220, in 6-MP-mediated activation of the NR4A1-3 subfamily remains obscure. In this study we demonstrate that 6-MP modulates the activity of the coactivator TRAP220 in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that TRAP220 potentiates NOR-1-mediated transactivation, and interacts with the NR4A1-3 subgroup in an AF-1-dependent manner in a cellular context. The region of TRAP220 that mediated 6-MP activation and NR4A interaction was delimited to amino acids 1-800, and operates independently of the critical PKC and PKA phosphorylation sites. Interestingly, TRAP220 expression does not increase the relative induction by 6-MP, however the absolute level of NOR-1-mediated trans-activation is increased. This study demonstrates that 6-MP modulates the activity of the NR4A subgroup, and the coactivator TRAP220.
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PMID:TRAP220 is modulated by the antineoplastic agent 6-Mercaptopurine, and mediates the activation of the NR4A subgroup of nuclear receptors. 1595 51

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and peptide histidine-isoleucine (PHI), are structurally related endogenous peptides widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system and showing rich profile of biological activities. They act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neurotrophic factors. Recently, their neuroprotective potential has been revealed in numerous in vitro and in vivo models. Thus, PACAP and VIP protected the cells from neurotoxic effects of ethanol, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, beta-amyloid and glycoprotein 120 (gp120). Moreover, PACAP showed neuroprotection against glutamate, human prion protein fragment 106-126 [PrP(106-126)] and C2-ceramide. Both peptides reduced brain damage after ischemia and ameliorated neurological deficits in a model of Parkinson's disease. Neuroprotective potential of PHI has not been thoroughly investigated yet, but several results obtained in the last years do not exclude it. The mechanism underlying neuroprotective properties of PACAP seems to involve activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) --> cyclic adenosine 3',5'-mono-phosphate (cAMP) --> protein kinase A (PKA) and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways, and inhibition of caspase-3. PACAP can also, yet indirectly, stimulate astrocytes to release neuroprotective factors, such as regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1 (MIP-1) chemokines. Neuroprotective activity of VIP seems to involve an indirect mechanism requiring astrocytes. VIP-stimulated astrocytes secrete neuroprotective proteins, including activity-dependent neurotrophic factor (ADNF) and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), as well as a number of cytokines. However, in the activated microglia, VIP and PACAP are capable of inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators which can lead to neurodegenerative processes within the brain. In conclusion, studies carried out on the central nervous system have shown that PACAP, VIP, and likely PHI, are endowed with a neuroprotective potential, which renders them (or their derivatives) promising therapeutic agents in several psychoneurological disorders linked to neurodegeneration.
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PMID:Neuroprotective potential of three neuropeptides PACAP, VIP and PHI. 1598 13

In vivo and in vitro studies have suggested a neuroprotective role for Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) against neuronal insults. Here, we showed that PACAP27 protects against neurotoxicity induced by rotenone, a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). The neuroprotective effect of PACAP27 was dose-dependent and blocked by its specific receptor antagonist, PACAP6-27. The effects of PACAP27 on rotenone-induced cell death were mimicked by dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP), forskolin and prevented by the PKA inhibitor H89, the ERK inhibitor PD98059 and the p38 inhibitor SB203580. PACAP27 administration blocked rotenone-induced increases in the level of caspase-3-like activity, whereas could not restore mitochondrial activity damaged by rotenone. Thus, our results demonstrate that PACAP27 has a neuroprotective role against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in neuronal differentiated PC12 cells and the neuroprotective effects of PACAP are associated with activation of MAP kinase pathways by PKA and with inhibition of caspase-3 activity; the signaling mechanism appears to be mediated through mitochondrial-independent pathways.
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PMID:PACAP protects neuronal differentiated PC12 cells against the neurotoxicity induced by a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, rotenone. 1600 91


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