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)

Down's Syndrome (DS), the most frequent of congenital birth defects, results from the trisomy of the chromosome numbered 21 in all cells of affected patients. This disease is characterized by developmental anomalies, mental retardation and features of rapid aging, particularly in the brain where the occurrence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is observed in all trisomy 21 patients over the age of 35. Elucidation of the biological mechanisms leading to brain aging in DS might provide new insight into the understanding of brain aging and AD in normal people. Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) is one of the genes encoded by chromosome 21. As a consequence of gene dosage excess, CuZnSOD activity and protein are increased by 50% in all DS tissues. The level of CuZnSOD protein and mRNA is particularly high in hippocampal pyramidal neurons susceptible to degenerative processes in AD and in dopaminergic melanized-neurons vulnerable in Parkinson's disease. Increased CuZnSOD activity in these age-related neurodegenerative disorders might result in H2O2 overproduction and subsequently promote peroxidative damages within cells. Increase of seleno-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) in DS cells supports this concept. In order to test this hypothesis, cell and animal models of CuZnSOD overexpression have been designed. In cells transfected with the human CuZnSOD gene, and increased Se-GPx activity is observed, a situation which mimics DS. In mice transgenic for the human CuZnSOD, the expression pattern of the transgene in the brain is similar to that in humans, and we can observe an increased peroxidation in this tissue. These data, like others in the literature, support the hypothesis that excess CuZnSOD induces an imbalance in the regulation of oxygen-derived free radical production which might result in peroxidative brain damage and possibly contribute to accelerated aging and age-related neuropathology.
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PMID:Cellular clones and transgenic mice overexpressing copper-zinc superoxide dismutase: models for the study of free radical metabolism and aging. 145 Jun 8

Oxidant stress, due to the formation of hydrogen peroxide and oxygen-derived free radicals, can cause cell damage due to chain reactions of membrane lipid peroxidation. Because the substantia nigra is rich in dopamine, which can undergo both enzymatic oxidation via monoamine oxidase and nonenzymatic autoxidation, hydrogen peroxide and oxyradicals (superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical) are generated in this midbrain nucleus. Although proof that oxidant stress actually causes the loss of monoaminergic neurons in patients with Parkinson's disease is lacking, there is a considerable body of evidence from studies in both animals and humans that support the concept. (1) Neurotoxins that selectively destroy the dopaminergic neurons in the nigra, such as 6-hydroxydopamine and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), appear to act via oxidant stress. (2) The substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease reveals evidence of oxidant stress by the findings of increased lipid peroxidation and decreased reduced glutathione. (3) Total iron is increased and ferritin is reduced in the substantia nigra pars compacta in patients with Parkinson's disease. This combination suggests that this transition metal is in a low molecular weight form, capable of catalyzing nonenzymatic oxidative reactions, especially the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to hydroxyl radical, which is the most reactive of the oxygen radicals. (4) Neuromelanin, a product of dopamine autoxidation, can serve as a reservoir for iron, promoting the generation of oxyradicals. (5) Antioxidant defense mechanisms appear to be reduced in the parkinsonian substantia nigra with the findings of decreased activities of glutathione peroxidase and catalase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The oxidant stress hypothesis in Parkinson's disease: evidence supporting it. 147 73

We examine the evidence for free radical involvement and oxidative stress in the pathological process underlying Parkinson's disease, from postmortem brain tissue. The concept of free radical involvement is supported by enhanced basal lipid peroxidation in substantia nigra in patients with Parkinson's disease, demonstrated by increased levels of malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxides. The activity of many of the protective mechanisms against oxidative stress does not seem to be significantly altered in the nigra in Parkinson's disease. Thus, activities of catalase and glutathione peroxidase are more or less unchanged, as are concentrations of vitamin C and vitamin E. The activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase and the levels of the antioxidant ion zinc are, however, increased, which may reflect oxidative stress in substantia nigra. Levels of reduced glutathione are decreased in nigra in Parkinson's disease; this decrease does not occur in other brain areas or in other neurodegenerative illnesses affecting this brain region (i.e., multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy). Altered glutathione metabolism may prevent inactivation of hydrogen peroxide and enhance formation of toxic hydroxyl radicals. In brain material from patients with incidental Lewy body disease (presymptomatic Parkinson's disease), there is no evidence for alterations in iron metabolism and no significant change in mitochondrial complex I function. The levels of reduced glutathione in substantia nigra, however, are reduced to the same extent as in advanced Parkinson's disease. These data suggest that changes in glutathione function are an early component of the pathological process of Parkinson's disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Oxidative stress as a cause of nigral cell death in Parkinson's disease and incidental Lewy body disease. The Royal Kings and Queens Parkinson's Disease Research Group. 151 Mar 85

Although the cause of neuronal death in Parkinson's disease remains unknown, a hyperoxidation phenomenon has been implicated as a potential cytotoxic mechanism. Catecholaminergic neurons containing neuromelanin, an autoxidation byproduct of catecholamines, are more vulnerable in Parkinson's disease than nonmelanized catecholaminergic neurons. High levels of CuZn superoxide dismutase mRNA have been observed in the substantia nigra, suggesting that high levels of oxygen free radicals are indeed produced in the structure. Catecholaminergic neurons surrounded by a low density of glutathione peroxidase cells are more susceptible to degeneration in Parkinson's disease than those well protected against oxidative stress. The nigral content in iron, a compound that exacerbates the production of free radicals in catecholaminergic neurons, is increased in Parkinson's disease. Altogether these data suggest that hyperoxidation may participate in the selective vulnerability of catecholaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Why are nigral catecholaminergic neurons more vulnerable than other cells in Parkinson's disease? 151 Mar 86

Clinical evidence suggests that deprenyl may slow progression of Parkinson's disease, although mechanisms underlying this putative neuroprotective action remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we studied deprenyl in 12 parkinsonian patients using a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. After 1 month, deprenyl (10 mg/d) decreased the optimal levodopa requirement by 24% (oral) and 16% (intravenous). Levodopa-induced dyskinesias were prolonged by 430%, and antiparkinsonian action by 44%. Mood improved by 47%. One month after withdrawing deprenyl, effects on dyskinesias and mood had yet to return to baseline. There was no change in activities of circulating glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, nor in levels of lipid peroxide and vitamin E. Deprenyl also failed to modify CSF levels of total glutathione and activities of glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase. These effects on levodopa pharmacodynamics and mood complicate the interpretation of available investigations of deprenyl's neuroprotective action and increase the risk of adverse effects of levodopa.
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PMID:Deprenyl effects on levodopa pharmacodynamics, mood, and free radical scavenging. 154 14

The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx; EC 1.11.1.9), the enzymes that metabolize the superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, were measured in serum from healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The activities of SOD and GSHPx in patients with PD were higher than those in normal healthy individuals. These results suggest that the increased activities of these enzymes could be due to oxidative stress in the initial stages of this disease.
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PMID:Serum antioxidant enzyme activity in Parkinson's disease. 158 6

A defective antioxidant scavenging system plays a major role in one of the theories of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a general difference in antioxidant activity between early and advanced cases of Parkinson's disease. Twenty five recently diagnosed patients, without any clinical fluctuations (group A), and 25 patients in a late phase of the disease with severe fluctuations in response to levodopa therapy (group B) were included in the study. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase was determined as a measure of antioxidant activity and significantly lower values were found in group B than in group A. Regression analyses in groups A and B showed significant correlation between glutathione peroxidase and duration of disease, but not between glutathione peroxidase and age of patients.
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PMID:Glutathione peroxidase in early and advanced Parkinson's disease. 194 Sep 36

The degeneration of nigro-striatal dopaminergic neurons is considered to be a predominant pathogenetic factor of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the etiology of this degeneration is not known. Hypotheses assume accumulation of endogenous and/or exogenous toxins as trigger of the disease. An increase in the concentration of free radicals has been suggested to be toxic to cells, especially when combined with certain metals like free iron or copper. The role of melanin in the degenerative process is not clear, but autoxidative reactions such as the oxidation of dopamine (DA) to melanin generating radicals and toxic metabolites seem to enhance the vulnerability of neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Disappearance of melanin in the SN, increase of total iron and ferric iron, extreme decrease of glutathione (GSH) levels, reduced activity of enzymes involved in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl and superoxide radicals (peroxidases, catalase, glutathione peroxidase), an increase of monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) activity and the substantial increase of malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, in the SN seem to indicate a role of an oxidative stress syndrome in the SN causing or aggravating PD.
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PMID:Oxidative stress: a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. 219 8

Oxygen-derived toxicity has been suggested as being involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase provide the enzymatic defence against oxygen toxicity. The activities of these enzymes were measured in peripheral blood leucocytes, cerebrospinal fluid and in different brain regions from patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease and from controls. There was no indication of a generalized defect in any of these enzymes in Parkinson's disease. The brain activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were also comparable to those of the controls. An increased superoxide dismutase-like activity was observed in several regions of parkinsonian brains, including the temporal cortex, thalamus and red nucleus. However, the most pronounced increase occurred in the substantia nigra and basal nucleus. This may be due to an increase of the superoxide dismutase activity or be a result of the presence of a compound with superoxide dismutase-like activity, and may reflect the involvement of radical-induced cell damage in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Oxygen toxicity protecting enzymes in Parkinson's disease. Increase of superoxide dismutase-like activity in the substantia nigra and basal nucleus. 322 Dec 44

Recent evidence suggests that among the factors that lead to neurodegenerative changes in Parkinson's disease are stimulation of lipid peroxidation and deficiency of glutathione and glutathione peroxidase in substantia nigra. We have investigated the effect of neurodegenerative changes on plasma and erythrocytes of patients with Parkinson's disease and compared the results with those of age-matched controls. Both plasma lipid peroxide levels and erythrocyte susceptibility to lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in Parkinson's disease. Erythrocyte fragility tests revealed that in 35% of the patients there was increased fragility. In addition, erythrocyte catalase activities were not changed whereas glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased in Parkinson's disease. Our results suggest that erythrocyte membrane integrity may be impaired in Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Increased erythrocyte susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in human Parkinson's disease. 338 Mar 50


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