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)

Adenosine A2A receptors are highly enriched in the basal ganglia system. They are predominantly expressed in enkephalin-expressing GABAergic striatopallidal neurons and therefore are highly relevant to the function of the indirect efferent pathway of the basal ganglia system. In these GABAergic enkephalinergic neurons, the A2A receptor tightly interacts structurally and functionally with the dopamine D2 receptor. Both by forming receptor heteromers and by targeting common intracellular signaling cascades, A2A and D2 receptors exhibit reciprocal antagonistic interactions that are central to the function of the indirect pathway and hence to basal ganglia control of movement, motor learning, motivation and reward. Consequently, this A2A/D2 receptors antagonistic interaction is also central to basal ganglia dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. However, recent evidence demonstrates that, in addition to this post-synaptic site of action, striatal A2A receptors are also expressed and have physiological relevance on pre-synaptic glutamatergic terminals of the cortico-limbic-striatal and thalamo-striatal pathways, where they form heteromeric receptor complexes with adenosine A1 receptors. Therefore, A2A receptors play an important fine-tuning role, boosting the efficiency of glutamatergic information flow in the indirect pathway by exerting control, either pre- and/or post-synaptically, over other key modulators of glutamatergic synapses, including D2 receptors, group I metabotropic mGlu5 glutamate receptors and cannabinoid CB1 receptors, and by triggering the cAMP-protein kinase A signaling cascade.
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PMID:Adenosine A2A receptors and basal ganglia physiology. 1764 43

Alpha-synuclein (AS) is an intrinsically unstructured protein in aqueous solution but is capable of forming beta-sheet-rich fibrils that accumulate as intracytoplasmic inclusions in Parkinson disease and certain other neurological disorders. However, AS binding to phospholipid membranes leads to a distinct change in protein conformation, stabilizing an extended amphipathic alpha-helical domain reminiscent of the exchangeable apolipoproteins. To better understand the significance of this conformational change, we devised a novel bacteriophage display screen to identify protein binding partners of helical AS and have identified 20 proteins with roles in diverse cellular processes related to membrane trafficking, ion channel modulation, redox metabolism, and gene regulation. To verify that the screen identifies proteins with specificity for helical AS, we further characterized one of these candidates, endosulfine alpha (ENSA), a small cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein implicated in the regulation of insulin secretion but also expressed abundantly in the brain. We used solution NMR to probe the interaction between ENSA and AS on the surface of SDS micelles. Chemical shift perturbation mapping experiments indicate that ENSA interacts specifically with residues in the N-terminal helical domain of AS in the presence of SDS but not in aqueous buffer lacking SDS. The ENSA-related protein ARPP-19 (cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein 19) also displays specific interactions with helical AS. These results confirm that the helical N terminus of AS can mediate specific interactions with other proteins and suggest that membrane binding may regulate the physiological activity of AS in vivo.
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PMID:Conformation-specific binding of alpha-synuclein to novel protein partners detected by phage display and NMR spectroscopy. 1789 45

Rolipram, a specific inhibitor of the phosphodiesterase IV (PDE IV), has recently been shown to exert neuroprotective effects in an Alzheimer transgenic mouse model and in hypoxic-ischemic damage in the rat brain. It activates the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)/cAMP regulatory element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway and it inhibits inflammation. We tested the neuroprotective effects of the specific PDE IV inhibitor rolipram in C57BL/6 mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). We found that rolipram administered at 1.25 mg/kg or 2.5 mg/kg doses significantly attenuated MPTP-induced dopamine depletion in the striatum, and reduced the loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra. There was a bell-shaped dose effect with greater efficacy at the 1.25 mg/kg dose than 2.5 mg/kg and a higher dose of rolipram, 5 mg/kg, had no protective effect and even increased the mortality of animals when co-administered with MPTP. Rolipram did not interact with MPTP in its absorption into the brain and in its metabolism to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)). Our data show a neuroprotective effect of the PDE IV specific inhibitor rolipram against dopaminergic neuron degeneration, suggesting that PDE IV inhibitors might be a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Attenuation of MPTP neurotoxicity by rolipram, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase IV. 1832 79

The observed cellular effects of pressure are entirely compatible with the acute manifestations of CNS hyperexcitability. Inhibition of the glycine receptor will reduce post-synaptic inhibition, leading to increased excitability (cf 'Startle Disease', an hereditary disease with increased excitability arising from a genetic modification to the glycine receptor (Becker et al., 2002)). Since glycine-mediated neurotransmission is particularly associated with motor reflex circuits (Lynch, 2004) it is not surprising that many of the acute manifestations of pressure involve motor dysfunction. Potentiation by pressure of the NR1-NR2C subtype of the NMDA-sensitive glutamate receptor will lead to increased excitability within the cerebellum (where this receptor sub-type is most highly expressed (Monyer et al., 1994)). Although the cerebellum receives input from many parts of the nervous system, it projects primarily to the motor and frontal lobe cognitive areas. Thus dysfunction of the glutamate-mediated excitatory neurotransmission in this area is most likely to result in locomotor and cognitive symptoms, characteristic of acute pressure effects. Finally, the effects observed on AC/cAMP intracellular signalling, probably mediated via dopamine receptors, is also likely to produce motor dysfunction (cf Parkinson's disease). The observed cellular effects also suggest potential mechanisms that could result in long-term CNS dysfunction. Potentiation of glutamate neurotransmission is likely to lead to excessive calcium entry into those neurons. This may trigger excitotoxicity via a signal cascade in which neuronal NO synthase is activated producing the toxic free radical peroxynitrite and activation of the proapoptotic protein poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (Aarts & Tymianski, 2005). An additional mechanism, also initially triggered by a rise in intracellular calcium through NR1-NR2C receptors, involves activation of a member of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channel superfamily, the TRPM-7 channel. Activation of these channels will cause a further rise in intracellular calcium, creating a positive feedback and generating more neuronal death through the toxic signal cascade (Aarts & Tymianski, 2005). Neuronal cell death within the cerebellum might be expected to give rise to delayed motor and cognitive dysfunction the magnitude of which would tend to be related to the extent of hyperbaric exposure. There is at present no evidence that these excitotoxic mechanisms are triggered by exposure to pressure but future experimental work should investigate the extent to which pressure might activate them.
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PMID:Cellular and neurophysiological effects of high ambient pressure. 1835 Nov 22

Drugs acting at dopamine D2-like receptors play a pivotal role in the treatment of both schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Recent studies have demonstrated a role for G-protein independent D2 receptor signaling pathways acting through beta-arrestin. In this study we describe the establishment of a Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET) assay for measuring dopamine induced recruitment of human beta-arrestin2 to the human dopamine D2 receptor. Dopamine, as well as the dopamine receptor agonists pramipexole and quinpirole, acted as full agonists in the assay as reflected by their ability to elicit marked concentration dependent increases in the BRET signal signifying beta-arrestin2 recruitment to the D2 receptor. As expected from their effect on G-protein coupling and cAMP levels mediated through the D2 receptor RNPA, pergolide, apomorphine, ropinirole, bromocriptine, 3PPP, terguride, aripiprazole, SNPA all acted as partial agonists with decreasing efficacy in the BRET assay. In contrast, a wide selection of typical and atypical anti-psychotics was incapable of stimulating beta-arrestin2 recruitment to the D2 receptor. Moreover, we observed that haloperidol, sertindole, olanzapine, clozapine and ziprasidone all fully inhibited the dopamine induced beta-arrestin2 recruitment to D2 receptor (short variant) in a concentration dependent manner. We conclude that most anti-psychotics are incapable of stimulating beta-arrestin2 recruitment to the dopamine D2 receptor, in accordance with their antagonistic properties at the level of G-protein coupling.
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PMID:Recruitment of beta-arrestin2 to the dopamine D2 receptor: insights into anti-psychotic and anti-parkinsonian drug receptor signaling. 1845 2

Aggregation of alpha-synuclein may contribute to neuropathology in Parkinson's disease patients and in transgenic animal models. Natively unfolded alpha-synuclein binds to various proteins and conformational changes due to alpha-synuclein misfolding may alter physiological interactions. In the present study, we used protein arrays spotted with 5000 recombinant human proteins for a large scale interaction analysis of monomeric versus oligomeric alpha-synuclein. Monomeric alpha-synuclein bound to arrayed cAMP regulated phosphoprotein 19 and binding appears to be disrupted by alpha-synuclein oligomerization. Incubation with recombinant alpha-synuclein oligomers lead to the identification of several GTPase activating proteins and Cdc42 effector proteins as binding partners. Protein database searches revealed a Cdc42/Rac interactive binding domain in some interactors. To demonstrate in vivo relevance, we analyzed brainstem protein extracts from alpha-synuclein(A30P) transgenic mice. Pull-down assays using beads conjugated with a Cdc42/Rac interactive binding domain lead to an enrichment of endogenous alpha-synuclein oligomers. Cdc42 effector proteins were also co-immunoprecipitated with alpha-synuclein from brainstem lysates and were colocalized with alpha-synuclein aggregates in brain sections by double immunostaining. By two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of synaptosomal fractions from transgenic mouse brains we detected additional isoforms of septin 6, a downstream target of Cdc42 effector proteins. Small GTPases have recently been identified in a genetic modifier screen to suppress alpha-synuclein toxicity in yeast. Our data indicate that components of small GTPase signal transduction pathways may be directly targeted by alpha-synuclein oligomers which potentially leads to signaling deficits and neurodegeneration.
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PMID:Protein array analysis of oligomerization-induced changes in alpha-synuclein protein-protein interactions points to an interference with Cdc42 effector proteins. 1854 83

It has been proposed that striatonigral GABAergic transmission in the substantia nigra reticulata (SNr) is enhanced during Parkinson's disease and subsequent L-DOPA treatment. To evaluate this proposal we determined the effects of activating dopamine D1 receptors on depolarization induced [(3)H]-GABA release and on [(3)H]-cAMP accumulation in slices of SNr of rats with unilateral 6-OHDA lesions with and without l-DOPA treatment. Denervation increased depolarization induced D1-stimulated [(3)H]-GABA release, while repeated L-DOPA treatment further enhanced this response. Both also enhanced the effects of forskolin on [(3)H]-cAMP production and [(3)H]-GABA release, while neither modified the stimulating effects of 8-Br-cAMP on the release. These results shown that, after 6-OHDA lesions and l-DOPA treatment, cAMP signaling is enhanced. Furthermore, the results suggest that activation of sites in the signaling cascade downstream of cAMP synthesis is not required to increase release.
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PMID:6-OHDA-induced hemiparkinsonism and chronic L-DOPA treatment increase dopamine D1-stimulated [(3)H]-GABA release and [(3)H]-cAMP production in substantia nigra pars reticulata of the rat. 1858 4

Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) selectively die in Parkinson's disease (PD), but it is unclear how and why this occurs. Recent findings implicate prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and two of its four receptors, namely EP1 and EP2, as mediators of degenerative and protective events in situations of acute and chronic neuronal death. EP1 activation can exacerbate excitotoxic damage in stroke models and our recent study showed that EP1 activation may explain the selective sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to oxidative stress. Conversely, EP2 activation may be neuroprotective, although toxic effects have also been demonstrated. Here we investigated if and how EP2 activation might alter the survival of dopaminergic neurons following selective low-level oxidative injury evoked by the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in primary neuronal cultures prepared from embryonic rat midbrain. We found that cultured dopaminergic neurons displayed EP2 receptors. Butaprost, a selective EP2 agonist, significantly reduced 6-OHDA neurotoxicity. EP2 receptors are coupled to stimulatory G-proteins (Gs), which activate adenylate cyclase, increasing cAMP synthesis, which then activates protein kinase A (PKA). Both dibutyryl cAMP and forskolin reduced dopaminergic cell loss after 6-OHDA exposure. Conversely, KT5720 and H-89, two structurally distinct high-affinity PKA inhibitors, abolished the protective effect of butaprost, implicating cAMP-dependent PKA activity in the neuroprotection by EP2 activation. Finally, we show that melanized dopaminergic neurons in the human SN express EP2. This pathway warrants consideration as a neuroprotective strategy for PD.
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PMID:Prostaglandin receptor EP2 protects dopaminergic neurons against 6-OHDA-mediated low oxidative stress. 1859 41

Dopamine receptor signaling exhibits prominent plasticity that is important for the pathogenesis of both addictive and movement disorders. Psychoactive stimulants that activate the dopamine D(1) receptor (Drd1a) induce the rapid phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in neurons of the nucleus accumbens and ventral striatum. This response is known to be dependent on the phosphatase inhibitor dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein-32 (DARPP-32) and appears critical for the sensitization of Drd1a responses that contributes to addiction. Loss of dopamine input to the striatum, as in models of Parkinson's disease (PD), also results in a sensitization of responses to dopamine agonists that is manifest by increased activation of ERK1/2 in the dorsal striatum. Here, we test whether DARPP-32 is required for sensitization of Drd1a responses in a PD model. In the normal dorsal striatum, there is minimal Drd1a-mediated activation of ERK1/2; however, in the PD model there is robust Drd1a-mediated activation of ERK1/2. In both wild-type and DARPP-32 knock-out mice, Drd1a robustly induces pERK1/2 throughout the dopamine-depleted striatum. These findings indicate that Drd1a sensitization relevant for PD occurs by a novel mechanism that does not require DARPP-32.
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PMID:Differences between dorsal and ventral striatum in Drd1a dopamine receptor coupling of dopamine- and cAMP-regulated phosphoprotein-32 to activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase. 1861 80

Epidemiological evidence suggests that caffeine or its metabolites reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, possibly by protecting dopaminergic neurons, but the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. Here, we show that the primary metabolite of caffeine, paraxanthine (PX; 1, 7-dimethylxanthine), was strongly protective against neurodegeneration and loss of synaptic function in a culture system of selective dopaminergic cell death. In contrast, caffeine itself afforded only marginal protection. The survival effect of PX was highly specific to dopaminergic neurons and independent of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Nevertheless, PX had the potential to rescue dopaminergic neurons that had matured initially with and were then deprived of GDNF. The protective effect of PX was not mediated by blockade of adenosine receptors or by elevation of intracellular cAMP levels, two pharmacological effects typical of methylxanthine derivatives. Instead, it was attributable to a moderate increase in free cytosolic calcium via the activation of reticulum endoplasmic ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels. Consistent with these observations, PX and also ryanodine, the preferential agonist of RyRs, were protective in an unrelated paradigm of mitochondrial toxin-induced dopaminergic cell death. In conclusion, our data suggest that PX has a neuroprotective potential for diseased dopaminergic neurons.
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PMID:Paraxanthine, the primary metabolite of caffeine, provides protection against dopaminergic cell death via stimulation of ryanodine receptor channels. 1862 27


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