title: Peripheral markers of apoptosis in Parkinson's disease: the effect of dopaminergic drugs.
abstract: In this study, we measured the lymphocyte levels of proteins involved in apoptosis regulation, such as Bcl-2, the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), caspase-3, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn SOD), in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), either untreated or under therapy with dopaminergic agents (l-Dopa alone or l-dopa + dopamine agonists) and in healthy volunteers. All PD groups showed increased activity of caspase-3, compared to controls, particularly those under treatment only with l-Dopa. In this latter group, the increase in caspase-3 activity was also paralleled by an increase in the concentration of Cu/Zn SOD. In addition, patients taking l-Dopa + dopamine agonists showed marked decrease in Bcl-2 levels and increased PBR expression, which seems in keeping with the hypothesis that PBR may be functionally related to Bcl-2. In conclusion, we found clear modifications in the levels of proteins involved in the control of apoptosis in lymphocytes of PD patients. These changes were disease related but also modulated by the pharmacological treatment, which confirms the potential role of apoptosis in PD pathogenesis and the modulatory influence of dopaminergic agents.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS C. Mondino, Pavia, Italy. fabio.blandini@mondino.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blandini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mangiagalli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samuele
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rasini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fancellu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martignoni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riboldazzi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calandrella
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Frigo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000032:analysis; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D007980:Levodopa; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases