scholarly journals Insulin Resistance Promotes Parkinson’s Disease through Aberrant Expression of α-Synuclein, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Deregulation of the Polo-Like Kinase 2 Signaling

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Tai Hong ◽  
Kai-Yun Chen ◽  
Weu Wang ◽  
Jing-Yuan Chiu ◽  
Dean Wu ◽  
...  

Background: Insulin resistance (IR), considered a hallmark of diabetes at the cellular level, is implicated in pre-diabetes, results in type 2 diabetes, and negatively affects mitochondrial function. Diabetes is increasingly associated with enhanced risk of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD); however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the probable culpability of IR in the pathogenesis of PD. Methods: Using MitoPark mice in vivo models, diabetes was induced by a high-fat diet in the in vivo models, and IR was induced by protracted pulse-stimulation with 100 nM insulin treatment of neuronal cells, in vitro to determine the molecular mechanism(s) underlying altered cellular functions in PD, including mitochondrial dysfunction and α-synuclein (SNCA) aberrant expression. Findings: We observed increased SNCA expression in the dopaminergic (DA) neurons of both the wild-type and diabetic MitoPark mice, coupled with enhanced degeneration of DA neurons in the diabetic MitoPark mice. Ex vivo, in differentiated human DA neurons, IR was associated with increased SNCA and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, as well as mitochondrial depolarization. Moreover, we demonstrated concomitant hyperactivation of polo-like kinase-2 (PLK2), and upregulated p-SNCA (Ser129) and proteinase K-resistant SNCA proteins level in IR SH-SY5Y cells, however the inhibition of PLK2 reversed IR-related increases in phosphorylated and total SNCA. Similarly, the overexpression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-alpha (PGC)-1α suppressed ROS production, repressed PLK2 hyperactivity, and resulted in downregulation of total and Ser129-phosphorylated SNCA in the IR SH-SY5Y cells. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that IR-associated diabetes promotes the development and progression of PD through PLK2-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, upregulated ROS production, and enhanced SNCA signaling, suggesting the therapeutic targetability of PLK2 and/or SNCA as potential novel disease-modifying strategies in patients with PD.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sarah Jarrin ◽  
Abrar Hakami ◽  
Ben Newland ◽  
Eilís Dowd

Despite decades of research and billions in global investment, there remains no preventative or curative treatment for any neurodegenerative condition, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Arguably, the most promising approach for neuroprotection and neurorestoration in PD is using growth factors which can promote the growth and survival of degenerating neurons. However, although neurotrophin therapy may seem like the ideal approach for neurodegenerative disease, the use of growth factors as drugs presents major challenges because of their protein structure which creates serious hurdles related to accessing the brain and specific targeting of affected brain regions. To address these challenges, several different delivery systems have been developed, and two major approaches—direct infusion of the growth factor protein into the target brain region and in vivo gene therapy—have progressed to clinical trials in patients with PD. In addition to these clinically evaluated approaches, a range of other delivery methods are in various degrees of development, each with their own unique potential. This review will give a short overview of some of these alternative delivery systems, with a focus on ex vivo gene therapy and biomaterial-aided protein and gene delivery, and will provide some perspectives on their potential for clinical development and translation.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minhong Huang ◽  
Dan Lou ◽  
Adhithiya Charli ◽  
Dehui Kong ◽  
Huajun Jin ◽  
...  

AbstractGenetic mutations explain only 10-15% of cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD), while an overriding environmental component has been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of PD. But regardless of where the underlying triggers for the onset of familial and sporadic PD fall on the gene-environment axis, mitochondrial dysfunction emerges as a common mediator of dopaminergic neuronal degeneration. Herein, we employ a multidisciplinary approach to convincingly demonstrate that neurotoxicant exposure- and genetic mutation-driven mitochondrial dysfunction share a common mechanism of epigenetic dysregulation. Under both scenarios, lysine 27 acetylation of likely variant H3.2 (H3.2K27ac) increased in dopaminergic neuronal models of PD, thereby opening that region to active enhancer activity via H3K27 hyperacetylation. These vulnerable epigenomic loci represent potential transcription factor motifs for PD pathogenesis. We further confirmed the mitochondrial dysfunction induced H3K27ac during neurodegeneration in ex vivo models of PD. Our results reveal an exciting axis of ‘exposure/mutation-mitochondrial dysfunction-metabolism-H3K27ac-transcriptome’ for PD pathogenesis. Collectively, the novel mechanistic insights presented here interlinks mitochondrial dysfunction to epigenetic transcriptional regulation in dopaminergic degeneration as well as offer potential new epigenetic intervention strategies for PD.


Neuroscience ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 258 ◽  
pp. 385-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Yue ◽  
D.J. Hariri ◽  
B. Caballero ◽  
S. Zhang ◽  
M.J. Bartlett ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. E13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goutam Ghoshal ◽  
Lucy Gee ◽  
Tamas Heffter ◽  
Emery Williams ◽  
Corinne Bromfield ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEMinimally invasive procedures may allow surgeons to avoid conventional open surgical procedures for certain neurological disorders. This paper describes the iterative process for development of a catheter-based ultrasound thermal therapy applicator.METHODSUsing an ultrasound applicator with an array of longitudinally stacked and angularly sectored tubular transducers within a catheter, the authors conducted experimental studies in porcine liver, in vivo and ex vivo, in order to characterize the device performance and lesion patterns. In addition, they applied the technique in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease to investigate the feasibility of its application in brain.RESULTSThermal lesions with multiple shapes and sizes were readily achieved in porcine liver. The feasibility of catheter-based focused ultrasound in the treatment of brain conditions was demonstrated in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease.CONCLUSIONSThe authors show proof of principle of a catheter-based ultrasound system that can create lesions with concurrent thermode-based measurements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 101-108
Author(s):  
Di Nan ◽  
Yingying Cheng ◽  
Liangshu Feng ◽  
Mingming Zhao ◽  
Di Ma ◽  
...  

Background: Leukoaraiosis (LA), widely accepted as a feature of cerebral small vessel disease, significantly increases the incidence of stroke, dementia, and death. Cerebral small artery disease has been considered as one of the main causes of LA. However, since the term “venous collagenosis” (VC) was proposed in an atrophy research in 1995, there have been pathological and neuroimaging studies proving the association between the venous system and LA in aging, Alz­heimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease. Summary: Autopsy studies confirmed that thickening of the lumen wall in venules, which results from the deposition of collagen I and III, leading to vessel stenosis or occlusion, is closely associated with LA. Susceptibility-weighted imaging research revealed a controversial association of deep medullary veins and LA in vivo, regarding which there are no standard criteria currently. Nevertheless, retinal venous changes had been reported to increase the risk of LA development, providing a novel way for in vivo evaluation. As for the internal jugular vein, jugular venous reflux could double the LA score in aging and modulate circulation of cerebral spinal fluids. Key Messages: Disruption of the venous system was notably associated with LA in aging, AD, and Parkinson’s disease post-mortem and in in vivo models. The venous pathological changes may induce cerebral hypoperfusion, drainage system disruption, and vasogenic oedema in the veins around the periventricular white matter. The clarification of VC in LA may provide an early prevention and early treatment strategy for LA patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick J.A. Meijer ◽  
Stefan C. Steens ◽  
Anouke van Rumund ◽  
Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum ◽  
Benno Küsters ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Masato ◽  
Nicoletta Plotegher ◽  
Andrea Thor ◽  
Stephen Adams ◽  
Michele Sandre ◽  
...  

Dopamine dyshomeostasis has been acknowledged to be among the determinants of nigrostriatal neuron degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Several studies in experimental models and postmortem PD patients underlined increasing levels of the aldehydic dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), which is highly reactive towards proteins. DOPAL has been shown to covalently modify the presynaptic protein αSynuclein (αSyn), whose misfolding and aggregation represent a major trait of PD pathology, triggering αSyn oligomerization in dopaminergic neurons. Here, we demonstrated that DOPAL elicits αSyn neuronal accumulation and hampers αSyn clearance at synapses and the soma. By combining cellular and in vivo models, we provided evidence that DOPAL-induced αSyn buildup lessens neuronal resilience, compromises synaptic integrity, and overwhelms protein quality control pathways, specifically at neuronal projections. The resulting progressive decline of neuronal homeostasis leads to dopaminergic neuron loss and motor impairment, corroborating the αSyn-DOPAL interplay as an early event in PD neurodegeneration.


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