Effects of dopaminergic stimulation on peripheral markers of apoptosis: relevance to Parkinson's disease.
We investigated the effects of dopaminergic stimulation on anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, pro-apoptotic enzyme caspase- 3, and anti-oxidant/anti-apoptotic enzyme Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) in human lymphocytes exposed to dopamine (DA). The same determinations were also carried out in parkinsonian patients treated with L-dopa. Caspase-3 activity and Cu/Zn SOD levels tended to increase when lymphocytes were exposed to low or intermediate doses of DA, while a decrease was observed, particularly in caspase-3 activity, with the higher DA dose. Bcl-2 levels were unaffected. In patients, we observed a negative correlation between Cu/Zn SOD levels and daily intake of L-dopa, which also tended to be negatively correlated with caspase-3 activity, but not with Bcl- 2. Our results show that dopaminergic stimulation is associated with complex changes in regulatory proteins of apoptosis.
IRCCS C. Mondino, Via Palestro 3, Pavia, Italy.
F
F
Blandini
A
A
Mangiagalli
E
E
Martignoni
A
A
Samuele
R
R
Fancellu
C
C
Tassorelli
M
M
Cosentino
F
F
Marino
E
E
Rasini
D
D
Calandrella
G
G
Riboldazzi
C
C
Colombo
G M
GM
Frigo
G
G
Nappi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D007980:Levodopa; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; D004298:Dopamine