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)

In reactive gliosis, astrocytes undergo morphological and biochemical changes which can be mimicked in vitro by treatment with bFGF (basic fibroblast growth factor) or cAMP. To investigate the influence of activated cortical astrocytes on central nervous system (CNSD) neurons, we studied the effect of the supernatant from bFGF-treated astrocytes on the development of dopaminergic neurons from rat mesencephalon. Conditioned medium of untreated astrocytes stimulated dopamine uptake of mesencephalic cultures. After activation of astrocytes with bFGF this effect was greatly enhanced. It was significantly more potent than stimulating effects of other neurotrophic factors. The supernatant of these astrocytes increased the biochemical differentiation but not the survival of dopaminergic neurons in our cell culture system. Trypsin digestion and gel chromatography revealed that the activity was due to one or several proteins with molecular mass above 5 kDa. We excluded the participation of several factors known to be produced by astrocytes or that are neurotrophic for substantia nigra cultures. In particular, we provide evidence that bFGF, BDNF, NT-3, Il-1, Il-6, S100 beta and alpha 2-macroglobulin were not involved in the effect of the conditioned medium. In vitro stimulation of astrocytes therefore triggers the expression of currently uncharacterized factors which influence the biochemical differentiation of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons, the cells that degenerate in Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Cortical astrocytes activated by basic fibroblast growth factor secrete molecules that stimulate differentiation of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. 127 4

The recent molecular cloning of BDNF and CNTF based on traditional protein purification and protein sequencing and the identification and cloning of NT-3 and NT-4 by homology cloning strategies has led to a tremendous flurry of interest in the biology of these proteins and initiation of studies to assess their potential utility in neurological disorders ranging through degenerative disease, stroke and ischemia, trauma and peripheral neuropathies. Tissue culture studies have been very useful in identifying neuronal specificities of the neurotrophins and CNTF and in combination with localization studies of these growth factors and their receptors have provided the basis for in vivo studies. Initial animal studies with BDNF indicate efficacy of BDNF in models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and small fiber sensory neuropathy. Studies with CNTF have similarly progressed from in vitro findings, especially the discovery that CNTF is a growth factor for motor neurons, to in vivo findings where CNTF has been shown to be effective in slowing symptoms of motor neuron dysfunction in three genetic models. Based on these positive animal data, CNTF is currently in clinical trials for the potential treatment of motor neuron disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
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PMID:Neurotrophic growth factors and neurodegenerative diseases: therapeutic potential of the neurotrophins and ciliary neurotrophic factor. 783 3

Neurotrophic factors, like e.g. nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promote the survival and function of neurones in the peripheral and central nervous system. Dopamine or other biogenic amines induce the biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors in glial and neuronal cells. Therefore inhibition of enzymes, like the extraneuronal and neuronal located MAO or the predominantly glial situated COMT, which both metabolize catecholamines, may induce an increased biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors. Due to clinical studies especially MAO-B-inhibitors appear to slow the progression of neurological deficits in Parkinson's disease and the cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. On the one hand inhibition of COMT alone may also slow the metabolisation of biogenic amines in glial cells and may consequently induce synthesis of neurotrophic factors in glial cells. But on the other hand in vivo and in vitro studies show, that COMT-inhibitors may intensify the metabolisation of catecholamines in neurones by MAO, what may cause an enhanced generation of free radicals. This increase of free radicals may induce lipid peroxidation of membranes and therefore cause accelerated neuronal and glial cell death. For that reason we conclude, that centrally active COMT-inhibitors may only be used together with MAO-inhibitors in the neuroprotective treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Medical treatment with both inhibitors will have to be performed very carefully due to cytotoxic effects of high catecholamine levels on neuronal and glial cells and due to possible prolongation or potentiation of the activity of several noradrenergic drugs in the periphery.
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PMID:Therapy with central active catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)-inhibitors: is addition of monoamine oxidase (MAO)-inhibitors necessary to slow progress of neurodegenerative disorders? 836 8

Neurotrophins play a crucial role in the maintenance, survival and selective vulnerability of various neuronal populations within the normal and diseased brain. Several families of growth promoting substances have been identified within the central nervous system (CNS) including the superfamily of nerve growth factor related neurotrophin factors, glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). In addition, other non-neuronal growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor (FGF) have also been identified. This article reviews the trophic anatomy of these factors within the CNS. Intraventricular and intraparenchymal injections of exogenous nerve growth factor result in retrograde labeling mainly within the cholinergic basal forebrain. Distribution of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following intraventricular injection is minimal due to the binding to the trkB receptor along the ventricular wall. In contrast, intraparenchymal injections of BDNF results in widespread retrograde transport throughout the CNS. BDNF has also been shown to be transported anterogradely within the CNS. Infusion of GDNF into the CNS results in retrograde transport limited to the nigrostriatal pathway. Hippocampal injections of NT-3 retrogradely label mainly basal forebrain neurons. Retrograde transport of radiolabeled CNTF has only been observed in sensory neurons of the sciatic nerve. Following intraventricular and intraparenchymal infusion of radiolabeled bFGF, retrograde neuronal labeling was found in the telecephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and pons. In contrast retrograde labeling for aFGF was found only in the hypothalamus and midbrain. Since select neurotrophins traffic anterogradely and retrogradely within the nervous system, these proteins could be used to treat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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PMID:Distribution and retrograde transport of trophic factors in the central nervous system: functional implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. 1008 Mar 85

Impaired neuronal survival is a key event in the development of degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Here we show that transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) acts directly on rat E14 midbrain dopaminergic neurons in vitro, its survival-promoting effect being not mediated by BDNF, NT-3, or GDNF. Treatment with TGF-beta, sonic hedgehog (Shh), or fibroblast growth factor-8 (FGF8) significantly increased number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-immunoreactive neurons after 7 days, whereas application of these factors added together further increased number of TH-positive neurons, compared to single-factor treatments. Neutralization of endogenous TGF-beta, Shh, or FGF8 significantly reduced number of dopaminergic neurons. TGF-beta treatment decreased number of apoptotic cells, having no effect on cell proliferation. Neutralization of TGF-beta in vivo during chick E6-10 resulted in reduced number of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. The results suggest that TGF-beta is required for survival of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons acting in cooperation with Shh and FGF8.
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PMID:TGF-beta promotes survival on mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons in cooperation with Shh and FGF-8. 1519 87

Dementia is a frequent complication of Parkinson's disease (PD) and usually occurs late in the protracted course of the illness. We have already reported numerous MHC class II-positive microglia in the hippocampus in PD patients, and that this phenomenon may be responsible for functional changes in the neurons and the cognitive decline in PD patients. In this study, we have investigated the distribution of activated microglia and the immunohistochemical and the mRNA expression of several cytokines and neurotrophic factors of the hippocampus in PD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The brains from five cases of PD and five cases of DLB that were clinically and neuropathologically diagnosed, and those from four normal controls (NC) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-HLA-DP, -DQ, -DR (CR3/43), anti-alpha-synuclein, anti-brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein antibodies. In addition, the mRNA expressions of cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, TGF-beta) and neurotrophic factors (BDNF, GDNF, NGF, NT-3) of these brains were evaluated by the reverse transcription-PCR method. MHC class II-positive microglia were distributed diffusely in the hippocampus of PD and DLB brains. Although the cytoplasm of pyramidal and granular cells of the hippocampus in NC brains was strongly stained by anti-BDNF antibodies, it was only weakly stained in PD and DLB brains. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was significantly increased in the hippocampus of PD and DLB brains, and that of BDNF was significantly decreased in the hippocampus of DLB brains. The increased number of activated microglia and the production of neurotrophic cytokines such as IL-6, together with the decreased expression of the neurotrophic factors of neurons in the hippocampus of PD and DLB brains, may be related to functional cellular changes associated with dementia.
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PMID:Cytokine production of activated microglia and decrease in neurotrophic factors of neurons in the hippocampus of Lewy body disease brains. 1561 28

Similar to embryonic forebrain, the embryonic mesencephalon contains Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2)- and Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-responsive progenitors that can be isolated as neurospheres. Developmentally, the FGF2-responsive population appears first and is thought to give rise to EGF-responsive neural stem cells. It is not known whether following this developmental switch of growth factor responsiveness ventral mesencephalic (VM)-derived neural stem cells display distinct region-specific properties. We found that murine VM- and dorsal mesencephalic (DM)-derived primary neurospheres isolated with EGF at embryonic day 14.5 differed with respect to neurosphere formation efficacy and size. VM- but not DM-derived spheres expressed En1, the molecular marker of isthmic organizer, and contained transcripts of BDNF, FGF2, IGF-I and NT-3. Both VM and DM primary neurospheres were self-renewing and gave rise to astroglial cells, but 20% of VM spheres also generated neurons. According to in vitro properties, DM- and majority of VM-derived EGF-responsive progenitors represent glial precursors. VM- but not DM-derived primary neurospheres enriched their respective conditioned medium with factors that promoted the survival of dopaminergic neurons in vitro, suggesting that ventral mesencephalic EGF-responsive progenitors are endowed with the potential to provide trophic support to nearby nascent dopaminergic neurons. These data may have implications in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Murine embryonic EGF-responsive ventral mesencephalic neurospheres display distinct regional specification and promote survival of dopaminergic neurons. 1662 6

Neural stem cell transplantation therapy was developed for replacing lost or damaged neural cells for the neurodegenerative disease, including Parkinson's disease (PD), in which dopaminergic neuron cells are lost. The growth factor, neurotrophin-3(NT-3), has been shown to promote neuroregeneration, differentiation and migration during brain development. In this report, we construct rat neural stem cells that express neurotrophin-3 endogenously (rNSC-NT3) and transplant them into 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-treated Parkinsonian rats. Molecular approaches including quantitative real time PCR, Western blot and immunocytochemistry were used to identify the expression of NT-3 and the differentiation of planted cells. Behavioral recover was also tested. The result indicated that combined treatment of neurotrophin-3 gene and neural stem cells had a functional impact on reversing the main symptoms of the Parkinson's disease that significantly reduced apomorphine-induced rotational asymmetry and improved spatial learning ability. The rNSCs-NT3 is able to differentiate into dompaminergic neuron in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), and migrated around the lesion site. Endogenous expressed NT-3 exerts induction and trophic effects on neural stem cells. The rNSCs-NT3 showed higher activity than the rNSCs in regenerating tyrosine hydroxylase positive cell numbers and migrating distance, behavior improving in this dopa-deficit rat model. These findings suggest that the neural stem cells expressed NT-3 endogenously would be a better graft candidate for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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PMID:Combined treatment of neurotrophin-3 gene and neural stem cells is ameliorative to behavior recovery of Parkinson's disease rat model. 1911 25

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most common neurodegenerative disorders among the aged. The etiologies of these diseases remain to be clarified, but the common disease-modifying factors are confirmed: oxidative stress, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, excitotoxicity, impaired ubiquitine-proteasome system and inflammation. Neuroprotective therapy is proposed to prevent the disease progression by intervening the pathogenic and disease-modifying factors. From the studies on Parkinson's disease, the inhibitors of type B monoamine oxidase, such as selegiline and rasagiline, are the most promising neuroprotective agents to date. These inhibitors protect neuronal cells against cell death induced in cellular and animal models. The neuroprotective functions are ascribed to the stabilization of mitochondria, the prevention of death signaling process and the induction of pro-survival anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein family and neurotrophic factors. In cellular models, selegiline and rasagiline increased the different neurotrophic factors classes, neurotrophins (nerve growth factor, brain-derive neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin 3) and ligands of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, respectively. Studies in non-human primates and patients with Parkinson's disease confirmed further the induction of these specified neurotrophic factors. Selegiline and rasagiline are expected to show distinct pharmaceutical activities in selective neuronal systems through induction of distinct neurotrophic factors, and then activation of their own receptors and kinase systems. This review presents the molecular mechanisms behind neuroprotection by monoamine oxidase inhibitors and discusses the possible development of new drugs to prevent, delay and restore the neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
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PMID:Monoamine oxidase inhibitors as neuroprotective agents in age-dependent neurodegenerative disorders. 2069 22

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) raise great interest for brain cell therapy due to their ease of isolation from bone marrow, their immunomodulatory and tissue repair capacities, their ability to differentiate into neuronal-like cells and to secrete a variety of growth factors and chemokines. In this study, we assessed the effects of a subpopulation of human MSCs, the marrow-isolated adult multilineage inducible (MIAMI) cells, combined with pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs) in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). PAMs are biodegradable and non-cytotoxic poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres, coated by a biomimetic surface and releasing a therapeutic protein, which acts on the cells conveyed on their surface and on their microenvironment. In this study, PAMs were coated with laminin and designed to release neurotrophin 3 (NT3), which stimulate the neuronal-like differentiation of MIAMI cells and promote neuronal survival. After adhesion of dopaminergic-induced (DI)-MIAMI cells to PAMs in vitro, the complexes were grafted in the partially dopaminergic-deafferented striatum of rats which led to a strong reduction of the amphetamine-induced rotational behavior together with the protection/repair of the nigrostriatal pathway. These effects were correlated with the increased survival of DI-MIAMI cells that secreted a wide range of growth factors and chemokines. Moreover, the observed increased expression of tyrosine hydroxylase by cells transplanted with PAMs may contribute to this functional recovery.
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PMID:The therapeutic potential of human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells combined with pharmacologically active microcarriers transplanted in hemi-parkinsonian rats. 2107 44


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