Abstract
Several lines of evidence implicate a central role for alpha-synuclein (aSN) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Besides rare genetic mutations, post-translational mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-related nitration, may alter the protein properties in terms of propensity to aggregate or be degraded. Our group previously described increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production within easily accessible peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in PD patients compared to healthy elderly subjects. In the present work, we demonstrated a significant induction of nitrotyrosine (NT)-modifications of aSN within PBMCs derived from individuals with idiopathic PD compared to controls, while aSN protein appeared similarly expressed in the two populations. The amount of NT-modified aSN within PBMCs was positively correlated with intracellular ROS concentration and inversely related to daily dosage of levodopa, making its measurement potentially relevant for disease-intervention studies. Neither aSN expression nor its NT-modifications showed any correlation to specific REP1 genotypes, polymorphic variants within aSN gene promoter whose association to PD susceptibility may occur through the modulation of aSN protein expression. Moreover, although NT-modified aSN has been linked to enhanced propensity to aggregate, we failed to detect an increased presence of insoluble aSN aggregates in PBMCs from PD subjects relative to controls, despite a lack of changes in the ubiquitin-proteasome expression or activity. Nonetheless, a significant activation of the autophagy response was identified within PBMCs from PD individuals, which could represent a protective mechanism against abnormal protein accumulation and may explain the lack of aSN aggregation. We discuss the relevance of these findings with respect to PD pathogenesis and biomarker development.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 6-10 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Neuroscience Letters |
| Volume | 477 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2010 |
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Keywords
- Alpha-synuclein
- Autophagy
- Nitration
- Oxidative stress
- Parkinson's disease
- REP1
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Neuroscience(all)
Cite this
Alpha-synuclein nitration and autophagy response are induced in peripheral blood cells from patients with Parkinson disease. / Prigione, Alessandro; Piazza, Fabrizio; Brighina, Laura; Begni, Barbara; Galbussera, Alessio; DiFrancesco, Jacopo C.; Andreoni, Simona; Piolti, Roberto; Ferrarese, Carlo.
In: Neuroscience Letters, Vol. 477, No. 1, 06.2010, p. 6-10.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Alpha-synuclein nitration and autophagy response are induced in peripheral blood cells from patients with Parkinson disease
AU - Prigione, Alessandro
AU - Piazza, Fabrizio
AU - Brighina, Laura
AU - Begni, Barbara
AU - Galbussera, Alessio
AU - DiFrancesco, Jacopo C.
AU - Andreoni, Simona
AU - Piolti, Roberto
AU - Ferrarese, Carlo
PY - 2010/6
Y1 - 2010/6
N2 - Several lines of evidence implicate a central role for alpha-synuclein (aSN) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Besides rare genetic mutations, post-translational mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-related nitration, may alter the protein properties in terms of propensity to aggregate or be degraded. Our group previously described increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production within easily accessible peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in PD patients compared to healthy elderly subjects. In the present work, we demonstrated a significant induction of nitrotyrosine (NT)-modifications of aSN within PBMCs derived from individuals with idiopathic PD compared to controls, while aSN protein appeared similarly expressed in the two populations. The amount of NT-modified aSN within PBMCs was positively correlated with intracellular ROS concentration and inversely related to daily dosage of levodopa, making its measurement potentially relevant for disease-intervention studies. Neither aSN expression nor its NT-modifications showed any correlation to specific REP1 genotypes, polymorphic variants within aSN gene promoter whose association to PD susceptibility may occur through the modulation of aSN protein expression. Moreover, although NT-modified aSN has been linked to enhanced propensity to aggregate, we failed to detect an increased presence of insoluble aSN aggregates in PBMCs from PD subjects relative to controls, despite a lack of changes in the ubiquitin-proteasome expression or activity. Nonetheless, a significant activation of the autophagy response was identified within PBMCs from PD individuals, which could represent a protective mechanism against abnormal protein accumulation and may explain the lack of aSN aggregation. We discuss the relevance of these findings with respect to PD pathogenesis and biomarker development.
AB - Several lines of evidence implicate a central role for alpha-synuclein (aSN) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Besides rare genetic mutations, post-translational mechanisms, such as oxidative stress-related nitration, may alter the protein properties in terms of propensity to aggregate or be degraded. Our group previously described increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production within easily accessible peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in PD patients compared to healthy elderly subjects. In the present work, we demonstrated a significant induction of nitrotyrosine (NT)-modifications of aSN within PBMCs derived from individuals with idiopathic PD compared to controls, while aSN protein appeared similarly expressed in the two populations. The amount of NT-modified aSN within PBMCs was positively correlated with intracellular ROS concentration and inversely related to daily dosage of levodopa, making its measurement potentially relevant for disease-intervention studies. Neither aSN expression nor its NT-modifications showed any correlation to specific REP1 genotypes, polymorphic variants within aSN gene promoter whose association to PD susceptibility may occur through the modulation of aSN protein expression. Moreover, although NT-modified aSN has been linked to enhanced propensity to aggregate, we failed to detect an increased presence of insoluble aSN aggregates in PBMCs from PD subjects relative to controls, despite a lack of changes in the ubiquitin-proteasome expression or activity. Nonetheless, a significant activation of the autophagy response was identified within PBMCs from PD individuals, which could represent a protective mechanism against abnormal protein accumulation and may explain the lack of aSN aggregation. We discuss the relevance of these findings with respect to PD pathogenesis and biomarker development.
KW - Alpha-synuclein
KW - Autophagy
KW - Nitration
KW - Oxidative stress
KW - Parkinson's disease
KW - REP1
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77952959227&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77952959227&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.04.022
DO - 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.04.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 20399833
AN - SCOPUS:77952959227
VL - 477
SP - 6
EP - 10
JO - Neuroscience Letters
JF - Neuroscience Letters
SN - 0304-3940
IS - 1
ER -