Therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease based on data derived from genetic research.
Following the identification of mutations in alpha-synuclein as the cause of some rare forms of familial Parkinson's disease (PD), genetic research has uncovered numerous gene loci of PD. Meanwhile, several neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to accumulate a-synuclein in neuronal and glial cells summarizing this group of diseases as synucleinopathies. All currently known gene defects causing PD alter the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway of protein degradation. Identification of these disease mutations allows studying the functional consequences which lead to cellular dysfunction and cell death in cell culture and transgenic animal models, to identify therapeutic targets and to test potential protective strategies in these models.
Riess
Olaf
O
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Tübingen, Calwer Strasse 7, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. olaf.riess@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Berg
Daniela
D
Krüger
Rejko
R
Schulz
Jörg B
JB
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000975:Antioxidants; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C497604:SNCA protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D007501:Iron