摘要
Parkinson＇s disease（PD）is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer＇s disease.The etiology of PD is still not completely understood,but the degeneration of dopaminergic（DA）neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta（SNpc）,loss of DA innervation of the striatum,and protein aggregates in the form of Lewy bodies and neurites are its established hallmarks. In addition to α-synuclein accumu- lation in Lewy bodies and neurites, genetic mutations in the genes encoding parkin, PINK, DJ-1, LRRK2 and other proteins are associated with the inherited form of PD. An association study linked also the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret to PD （Meka et al., 2015）. Currently there are only symptomatic treatments available for PD but no cure. Consequently much effort is being made to find neurotrophic and other factors able to stimulate SNpc DA neuron protection and regeneration.
Parkinson＇s disease（PD）is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer＇s disease.The etiology of PD is still not completely understood,but the degeneration of dopaminergic（DA）neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta（SNpc）,loss of DA innervation of the striatum,and protein aggregates in the form of Lewy bodies and neurites are its established hallmarks. In addition to α-synuclein accumu- lation in Lewy bodies and neurites, genetic mutations in the genes encoding parkin, PINK, DJ-1, LRRK2 and other proteins are associated with the inherited form of PD. An association study linked also the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret to PD （Meka et al., 2015）. Currently there are only symptomatic treatments available for PD but no cure. Consequently much effort is being made to find neurotrophic and other factors able to stimulate SNpc DA neuron protection and regeneration.
基金
supported by grants from the DFG (KR 3529/4-1 to ERK)
the town of Hamburg (Lexi to ERK)
