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)

Glutamate neurotoxicity can be an experimental oxidative stress, and we investigated glutamate toxicity against cultured rat mesencephalic neurons. Although glutamate showed similar toxicity against dopaminergic and nondopaminergic neurons, nitric oxide (NO) showed neurotoxicity restricted exclusively in nondopaminergic neurons. An inhibitor of NO synthase had no significant effect on the glutamate toxicity against dopaminergic neurons, however, it had a significant antagonistic effect on that against nondopaminergic neurons. These findings indicate the presence of two mechanisms of glutamate neurotoxicity, one being not mediated by NO, found in dopaminergic neurons, and the other being mediated via NO, found in nondopaminergic neurons. In contrast to NO, peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), an active metabolite of NO, caused significant cytotoxicity against dopaminergic and nondopaminergic neurons, suggesting that conversion of NO to ONOO(-) is suppressed in dopaminergic neurons. After pretreatment with small doses of methyl-4-phenylpyridium ion (MPP(+)), NO caused significant cytotoxicity against dopaminergic neurons, and glutamate toxicity was enhanced only against dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, sublethal dose of MPP(+) enhances glutamate toxicity against dopaminergic neurons, probably by the facilitation of suppressed NO conversion to ONOO(-) in dopaminergic neurons. Finally, to provide basic data for neuroprotective therapy in Parkinson's disease, we investigated neuroprotection against glutamate toxicity by dopamine agonists. Preincubation with the D2 type dopamine agonists provides neuroprotection against glutamate neurotoxicity and the protective effects blocked by a D2 antagonist, indicating that D2 agonists provide protection mediated not only by the inhibition of dopamine turnover, but also via D2 type dopamine receptor.
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PMID:MPP(+) and glutamate in the degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons. 1859 Nov 42

Glutamate antagonists decrease dyskinesia and augment the antiparkinsonian effects of levodopa in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, we investigated the acute effects of placebo and two doses of a NR2B subunit selective NMDA glutamate antagonist, CP-101,606, on the response to 2-hour levodopa infusions in 12 PD subjects with motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Both doses of CP-101,606 reduced the maximum severity of levodopa-induced dyskinesia approximately 30% but neither dose improved Parkinsonism. CP-101,606 was associated with a dose-related dissociation and amnesia. These results support the hypothesis that glutamate antagonists may be useful antidyskinetic agents. However, future studies will have to determine if the benefits of dyskinesia suppression can be achieved without adverse cognitive effects.
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PMID:Effects of a NR2B selective NMDA glutamate antagonist, CP-101,606, on dyskinesia and Parkinsonism. 1875 56

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects dopaminergic (DA-ergic) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Glutamate modulates neuronal excitability, and a high concentration of glutamatergic receptors is found on DA-ergic neurons in the SNc. Paraquat (PQ) is a putative causative agent for PD. Its effects on synaptic glutamate transmission in SNc DA-ergic neurons were evaluated using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording in brain slices from 7- to 14-day-old Wistar rats. In the presence of bicuculline (BIC), strychnine, and dl-aminophosphonovaleric acid, PQ reversibly suppressed AMPA receptor-mediated evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.05). In the presence of tetrodotoxin (1 microM), PQ (50 microM) significantly reduced the amplitudes, but not the frequencies, of miniature EPSCs in the SNc, suggesting PQ inhibited eEPSCs through a postsynaptic mechanism. Exogenous application of AMPA to induce AMPA-mediated inward currents excluded involvement of a presynaptic response. The AMPA-induced currents in the SNc were significantly reduced by PQ (50 microM) to 74% of control levels (P<0.05), supporting that PQ acts on postsynaptic AMPA receptors. No effect of PQ on eEPSCs was seen in the LD thalamic nucleus and hippocampus, showing PQ specifically inhibited DA-ergic neurons in the SNc. Our results demonstrate a novel mechanism of action of PQ on glutamate-gated postsynaptic AMPA receptors in SNc DA-ergic neurons. This effect may attenuate the excitability and function of DA-ergic neurons in the SNc, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of PD.
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PMID:Paraquat inhibits postsynaptic AMPA receptors on dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. 1876 27

Overactivity of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the basal ganglia is known to be closely related to the onset and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Glutamate homeostasis around glutamatergic synapses is tightly regulated by two groups of glutamate transporters: glial glutamate transporters GLT1 (EAAT2) and GLAST (EAAT1), and neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1. In order to investigate the changes of glutamate transporters after the onset of Parkinson's disease, unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat, an animal model of Parkinson's disease, was employed. By immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses, GLT1 and GLAST proteins were significantly reduced in the striatum with lesion. No change in GLT1 and GLAST protein was found in the substantia nigra. The reduction of GLT1 protein in the striatum was more prominent than that of GLAST protein (approximately 40% vs. 20%). In addition, EAAC1 protein was found to be increased in the substantia nigra pars reticulata of the lesioned rats but not in the striatum. The present results indicate that reductions of GLT1 and GLAST may impair glutamate homeostasis around glutamatergic synapses in the striatum and contribute to over-spills of glutamate in the system. An increase in the EAAC1 level in the substantia nigra pars reticulata may increase GABA synthesis and enhance GABAergic neurotransmission. These results indicate that there are differential and distinct modulations of glutamate transporters after dopamine denervation in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat.
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PMID:Downregulation of glial glutamate transporters after dopamine denervation in the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats. 1883 27

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a member of the growing family of neurotrophic and neuroprotective factors playing important roles during neuronal development and protection against different types of injuries, such as Parkinson's disease, excitotoxicity, and ischemia. As shown with other neuronal tissues, we provide evidence that PACAP is protective in the retina against toxic injury induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) in vivo. The need for characterization of its fragments and analogues has recently been emphasized. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of the physiologically occurring fragments PACAP1-38 and 1-27 and the widely used antagonists (PACAP6-38 and 6-27) in retinal degeneration induced by MSG in neonatal pups. Histological analysis showed that MSG treatment caused the degeneration of the entire inner plexiform layer and the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers seemed fused. The total thickness of the retina was significantly reduced. Similar and substantial protective effects could be observed after three treatments with PACAP1-38 and 1-27, while MSG toxicity was further aggravated by the PACAP antagonists PACAP6-38 and 6-27. Glutamate-induced toxicity is known to play a role in several retinal pathologies. Our results provide further evidence for the effectiveness of the endogenously present PACAP forms in counteracting retinotoxicity and call for further studies leading to the discovery of potent analogues that could be used in human ophthalmic diseases.
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PMID:Effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide and its fragments on retinal degeneration induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment. 1945 57

Dopaminergic neurons are more vulnerable than other types of neurons in cases of Parkinson disease and ischemic brain disease. An increasing amount of evidence suggests that endogenous dopamine plays a role in the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons. Although glutamate toxicity contributes to the pathogenesis of these disorders, the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to glutamate toxicity has not been clarified. In this study, we demonstrated that dopaminergic neurons were preferentially affected by glutamate toxicity in rat mesencephalic cultures. Glutamate toxicity in dopaminergic neurons was blocked by inhibiting extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK. Furthermore, depletion of dopamine by alpha-methyl-dl-p-tyrosine methyl ester (alpha-MT), an inhibitor of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), protected dopaminergic neurons from the neurotoxicity. Exposure to glutamate facilitated phosphoryration of TH at Ser31 by ERK, which contributes to the increased TH activity. Inhibition of ERK had no additive effect on the protection offered by alpha-MT, whereas alpha-MT and c-jun N-terminal kinase or p38 MAPK inhibitors had additive effects and yielded full protection. These data suggest that endogenous dopamine is responsible for the vulnerability to glutamate toxicity of dopaminergic neurons and one of the mechanisms may be an enhancement of dopamine synthesis mediated by ERK.
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PMID:Vulnerability to glutamate toxicity of dopaminergic neurons is dependent on endogenous dopamine and MAPK activation. 1945 68

Human midbrain-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) may serve as a continuous source of dopaminergic neurons for the development of novel regenerative therapies in Parkinson's disease. However, the molecular and functional characteristics of glutamate receptors in human NPCs are largely unknown. Here, we show that differentiated human mesencepahlic NPCs display a distinct pattern of glutamate receptors. In whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, l-glutamate and NMDA elicited currents in 93% of NPCs after 3 weeks of differentiation in vitro. The concentration-response plots of differentiated NPCs yielded an EC(50) of 2.2 microM for glutamate and an EC(50) of 36 microM for NMDA. Glutamate-induced currents were markedly inhibited by memantine in contrast to 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) suggesting a higher density of functional NMDA than alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)/kainate receptors. NMDA-evoked currents and calcium signals were blocked by the NR2B-subunit specific antagonist ifenprodil indicating functional expression of NMDA receptors containing subunits NR1 and NR2B. In calcium imaging experiments, the blockade of voltage-gated calcium channels by verapamil abolished AMPA-induced calcium responses but only partially reduced NMDA-evoked transients suggesting the expression of calcium-impermeable, GluR2-containing AMPA receptors. Quantitative real-time PCR showed a predominant expression of subunits NR2A and NR2B (NMDA), GluR2 (AMPA), GluR7 (kainate), and mGluR3 (metabotropic glutamate receptor). Treatment of NPCs with 100 microM NMDA in vitro during proliferation (2 weeks) and differentiation (1 week) increased the amount of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunopositive cells significantly, which was reversed by addition of memantine. These data suggest that NMDA receptors in differentiating human mesencephalic NPCs are important regulators of dopaminergic neurogenesis in vitro.
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PMID:Glutamate receptor properties of human mesencephalic neural progenitor cells: NMDA enhances dopaminergic neurogenesis in vitro. 1965 71

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms including tremor and bradykinesia. The primary pathophysiology underlying PD is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Loss of these neurons causes pathological changes in neurotransmission in the basal ganglia motor circuit. The ability of ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors to modulate neurotransmission throughout the basal ganglia suggests that these receptors may be targets for reversing the effects of altered neurotransmission in PD. Studies in animal models suggest that modulating the activity of these receptors may alleviate the primary motor symptoms of PD as well as side effects induced by dopamine replacement therapy. Moreover, glutamate receptor ligands may slow disease progression by delaying progressive dopamine neuron degeneration. Antagonists of NMDA receptors have shown promise in reversing motor symptoms, levodopa-induced dyskinesias, and neurodegeneration in preclinical PD models. The effects of drugs targeting AMPA receptors are more complex; while antagonists of these receptors exhibit utility in the treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias, AMPA receptor potentiators show promise for neuroprotection. Pharmacological modulation of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) may hold even more promise for PD treatment due to the ability of mGluRs to fine-tune neurotransmission. Antagonists of mGluR5, as well as activators of group II mGluRs and mGluR4, have shown promise in several animal models of PD. These drugs reverse motor deficits in addition to providing protection against neurodegeneration. Glutamate receptors therefore represent exciting targets for the development of novel pharmacological therapies for PD.
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PMID:Glutamate receptors as therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease. 1970 65

The loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons that characterizes Parkinson's disease (PD) causes complex functional alterations in the basal ganglia circuit. Increased glutamatergic activity at crucial points of the circuit may be central to these alterations, thereby contributing to the onset of PD motor symptoms. Signs of neuroinflammation accompanying the neuronal loss have also been observed; also in this case, glutamate-mediated mechanisms may be involved. Glutamate may therefore intervene at multiple levels in PD pathophysiology, possibly through the modulation of metabotropic receptors. To address this issue, we evaluated the effects of systemic treatment with MPEP (2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)-pyridine), an antagonist of metabotropic receptor mGluR5, in a rodent model of progressive nigrostriatal degeneration based on the intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Following 6-OHDA injection, Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a 4-week, daily treatment with MPEP (1.5mg/kg, i.p.). To investigate whether the effects varied with the progression of the lesion, subgroups of lesioned animals started the treatment at different time-points: (1) immediately, (2) 1 week, or (3) 4 weeks after the neurotoxin injection. Akinesia, dopaminergic nigrostriatal damage and neuroinflammatory response (microglial and astroglial activation) were investigated. MPEP prompted immediate amelioration of 6-OHDA-induced akinesia, as measured by the Adjusting step test, in all subgroups, regardless of the degree of nigrostriatal damage. Conversely, MPEP did not modify neuronal survival or neuroinflammatory response in the nigrostriatal pathway. In conclusion, chronic treatment with MPEP exerted a pure symptomatic effect, further supporting that mGluR5 modulation may be a viable strategy to counteract the basal ganglia functional modifications underlying PD motor symptoms.
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PMID:Effects of early and delayed treatment with an mGluR5 antagonist on motor impairment, nigrostriatal damage and neuroinflammation in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease. 2010 May 49

Glutamate excitotoxicity is a hypothesis that states excessive glutamate causes neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. As glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS), the implications of glutamate excitotoxicity are many and far-reaching. Acute CNS insults such as ischaemia and traumatic brain injury have traditionally been the focus of excitotoxicity research. However, glutamate excitotoxicity has also been linked to chronic neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and others. Despite the continued research into the mechanisms of excitotoxicity, there are currently no pharmacological interventions capable of providing significant neuroprotection in the clinical setting of brain ischaemia or injury. This review addresses the current state of excitotoxic research, focusing on the structure and physiology of glutamate receptors; molecular mechanisms underlying excitotoxic cell death pathways and their interactions with each other; the evidence for glutamate excitotoxicity in acute neurologic diseases; laboratory and clinical attempts at modulating excitotoxicity; and emerging targets for excitotoxicity research.
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PMID:Glutamate receptors, neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. 2022 65


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