Dysfunction of synaptic endocytic trafficking in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the selective degeneration of dopamine neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway and dopamine deficiency in the striatum.The precise reasons behind the specific degeneration of these dopamine neurons remain largely elusive.Genetic investigations have identified over 20 causative PARK genes and 90 genomic risk loci associated with both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease.Notably,several of these genes are linked to the synaptic vesicle recycling process,particularly the clathrinmediated endocytosis pathway.This suggests that impaired synaptic vesicle recycling might represent an early feature of Parkinson's disease,followed by axonal degeneration and the eventual loss of dopamine cell bodies in the midbrain via a"dying back"mechanism.Recently,several new animal and cellular models with Parkinson's disease-linked mutations affecting the endocytic pathway have been created and extensively characterized.These models faithfully recapitulate certain Parkinson's disease-like features at the animal,circuit,and cellular levels,and exhibit defects in synaptic membrane trafficking,further supporting the findings from human genetics and clinical studies.In this review,we will first summarize the cellular and molecular findings from the models of two Parkinson's disease-linked clathrin uncoating proteins:auxilin(DNAJC6/PARK19)and synaptojanin 1(SYNJ1/PARK20).The mouse models carrying these two PARK gene mutations phenocopy each other with specific dopamine terminal pathology and display a potent synergistic effect.Subsequently,we will delve into the involvement of several clathrin-mediated endocytosis-related proteins(GAK,endophilin A1,SAC2/INPP5 F,synaptotagmin-11),identified as Parkinson's disease risk factors through genome-wide association studies,in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.We will also explore the direct or indirect roles of some common Parkinson's disease-linked proteins(alpha-synuclein(PARK1/4),Parkin(PARK2),and LRRK2(PARK8))in synaptic endocytic trafficking.Additionally,we will discuss the emerging novel functions of these endocytic proteins in downstream membrane traffic pathways,particularly autophagy.Given that synaptic dysfunction is considered as an early event in Parkinson's disease,a deeper understanding of the cellular mechanisms underlying synaptic vesicle endocytic trafficking may unveil novel to rgets for early diagnosis and the development of interventional therapies for Parkinson's disease.Future research should aim to elucidate why generalized synaptic endocytic dysfunction leads to the selective degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Naringin as a beneficial natural product against degeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection in the adult brain

The progressive degeneration of nigral dopaminergic（DA）neurons and the biochemical reduction of striatal dopamine levels are associated with major clinical symptoms,including tremor at rest,rigidity of the limbs,slowness and paucity of voluntary movement（bradykinesia）.

Nigrostriatal Degeneration in Parkinson Disease: Evaluation by Diffusion Tensor Tract-Specific Analysis

Diffusion tensor tractography was used to evaluate whether diffusion metrics in the nigrostriatal pathway could diagnose Parkinson disease. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed on 30 patients with Parkinson disease and 32 healthy controls by using a 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging system. Diffusion tensor tractography was used for both groups to visualize the nigrostriatal and corticospinal tracts. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) of the tracts were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine whether diffusion metrics of the nigrostriatal pathway could be used to diagnose Parkinson disease. Mean FA values (±SD) of the nigrostriatal tract in Parkinson disease patients (0.41 ± 0.025) were significantly lower than those in the control group (0.43 ± 0.022;p = 0.00068) and showed a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 60%. There were no significant differences in the MD values of the nigrostriatal tract or the FA and MD values of the corticospinal tract between Parkinson disease patients and the control group. FA values of the nigrostriatal pathway in Parkinson disease patients were significantly lower than those in normal, healthy individuals. Reduced FA was generally thought to reflect neuronal loss, gliosis, or demyelination of nerve fibers. This result might provide a useful measure for diagnosing Parkinson disease and evaluating patients’ clinical condition.

Feasibility of establishing model of Parkinson disease by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine at different parts of the nigrostriatal pathway in the brain of rats

BACKGROUND： Previous researches found that animal models with Parkinson disease （PD） could be established by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine （6-OHDA） into medial forebrain bundle （MFB）, substantia nigra compacta （SNC） and caudate-putamen complex （CPU） of the nigrostriatal pathway. OBJECTIVE ： To compare behavioral, biochemica 6-OHDA injections in the areas of MFB, SNC and DESIGN： Controlled observational study and histological properties of these rats undergoing the CPU respectively. SEI-IING： Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University MATERIALS： A total of 64 adult female SD rats weighing 180-230 g were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Guangxi Medical University. 6-OHDA （Sigma Company, USA）; Brain solid positioner （Standard model 51600, Stoelting Co., IL, USA）; rotational monitoring of little animal （type QL-1, USA）; high liquid chromatography （HLC, Waters Company）. METHOOS： The experiment was carried out in the Medical Experimental Center of Guangxi Medical University from February to December 2005. ① According to digital table, 64 SD rats were divided into MFB group, SNC group, CPU group and control group with 16 in each group. On the basis of the brain atlas of Paxinos, rats in the first three groups were injected with 5 μL 6-OHDA into right MFB （0 mm of line of incisor tooth, A/P 4.4 mm, L/R 1.2 mm, ON -7.8 mm）, SNC （line of incisor tooth just equal to horizon, A/P -4.8 mm, L/R 1.6 mm, ON -7.8 mm） and CPU （0 mm of line of incisor tooth, A/P 1.2 mm, L/R 2.7 mm, ON -5.4 mm）, respectively. The rats in control group were injected with 5 μL ascorbic acid solution （2 g/L）. One week after operation, 0.1 g/L apomorphine （Apo, 0.05 mg/kg） was subcutaneously injected into neck and then rotational behavior induced by Apo was recorded once a week for 8 weeks. The PD models were considered successful only when rotational times more than or equal to 7 times per minute. Eight weeks after operation, micro-perfusion was used to obtain micro-perfusate in bilateral CPU and contents of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid （3,4-DOPAC） and homovanillic acid （HVA） were also measured. In addition, amount of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells （TH＊） in SNC was counted with immuno- histochemical staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： ① Successful rate of PD models; ② contents of dopamine and its metabolite in MFB, SNC and CPU groups and TH＊ amount. RESULTS： All 64 SD rats were involved in the final analysis. ③ Successful rate and rotational behavior： One week after operation, there were 6 successful models both in SNC and MFB groups; in the 2^nd week, there were 6 both in SNC and MFB groups and 1 in CPU group; in the 3^nd week, there were 1 in MFB group and 3 in CPU group; in the 4^nd week, there were 3 in CPU group. Otherwise, no successful case was found out in the next 3 weeks. Abnormal rotational behavior was not observed in control group. Four weeks after operation, successful rates were 81% （13/16） in MFB group, 75% （12/16） in SNC group and 44% （7/16） in CPU group.② Contents of 3, 4-DOPAC and HVA： Eight weeks after operation, contents in the SNC area of the injured side were lower than those on non-lesion side （P 〈 0.01）.③Changes of TH＋ amount： Eight weeks after operation, TH＋ amount in the SNC area of the lesion side was lower than that on non-lesion side （P 〈 0.01 ）. CONCLUSION： Injecting 6-OHDA into MFB, SNC and CPU can damage dopaminergic cells and establish successful PD models.

Neurotrophic factors: from neurodevelopmental regulators to novel therapies for Parkinson's disease

Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration are two of the most promising disease-modifying ther- apies for the incurable and widespread Parkinson＇s disease. In Parkinson＇s disease, progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons causes debilitating motor symptoms. Neurotrophic factors play important regulatory roles in the development, survival and maintenance of specific neuronal populations. These factors have the potential to slow down, halt or reverse the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinsoffs disease. Several neurotrophic fac- tors have been investigated in this regard. This review article discusses the neurodevelopmental roles and therapeutic potential of three dopaminergic neurotrophic factors： glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, neurturin and growth/differentiation factor 5.

Historical perspective of cell transplantation in Parkinson's disease

Cell grafting has been considered a therapeutic approach for Parkinson's disease(PD) since the 1980 s. The classical motor symptoms of PD are caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to a decrement in dopamine release in the striatum. Consequently, the therapy of celltransplantation for PD consists in grafting dopamineproducing cells directly into the brain to reestablish dopamine levels. Different cell sources have been shown to induce functional benefits on both animal models of PD and human patients. However, the observed motor improvements are highly variable between individual subjects, and the sources of this variability are not fully understood. The purpose of this review is to provide a general overview of the pioneering studies done in animal models of PD that established the basis for the first clinical trials in humans, and compare these with the latest findings to identify the most relevant aspects that remain unanswered to date. The main focus of the discussions presented here will be on the mechanisms associated with the survival and functionality of the transplants. These include the role of the dopamine released by the grafts and the capacity of the grafted cells to extend fibers and to integrate into the motor circuit. The complete understanding of these aspects will require extensive research on basic aspects of molecular and cellular physiology, together with neuronal network function, in order to uncover the real potential of cell grafting for treating PD.

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF RAT NIGROSTRIATAL DOPAMINERGIC NEUROCONNECTION DURING DEVELOPMENT——A COMBINED IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY

The characteristics of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuroconnections in developing rats are studied by combined immunocytochemical and electron-microscopic techniques, with an antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). From the embryonic day 21 on, some of the THpositive nerve fibers are densely packed in the striatum to form a patch-like dopamine island. The percentage of the TH-positive nerve terminals among the labeled profiles is much higher inside than outside the dopamine island (P<0.01). On the other hand, the TH-positive terminals mainly form symmetrical axon-dendritic synapses, while most of the TH-negative terminals form asymmetrical axon-spinous synapses. The functional significance of the characterized dopaminergic connection is discussed.