title: Microglial activation as a priming event leading to paraquat-induced dopaminergic cell degeneration.
abstract: Dopaminergic cells in the substantia nigra are highly vulnerable to the neurodegenerative process of Parkinson's disease. Therefore, mechanisms that enhance their susceptibility to injury bear important implications for disease pathogenesis. Repeated injections with the herbicide paraquat cause oxidative stress and a selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in mice. In this model, the first paraquat exposure, though not sufficient to induce any neurodegeneration, predisposes neurons to damage by subsequent insults. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this "priming" event. We found that a single paraquat exposure was followed by an increase in the number of cells with immunohistochemical, morphological and biochemical characteristics of activated microglia, including induction of NADPH oxidase. If this microglial response was inhibited by the anti-inflammatory drug minocycline, subsequent exposures to the herbicide failed to cause oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. On the other hand, if microglial activation was induced by pre-treatment with lipopolysaccharide, a single paraquat exposure became capable of triggering a loss of dopaminergic neurons. Finally, mutant mice lacking functional NADPH oxidase were spared from neurodegeneration caused by repeated paraquat exposures. Data indicate that microglial activation and consequent induction of NADPH oxidase may act as risk factors for Parkinson's disease by increasing the vulnerability of dopaminergic cells to toxic injury.
authors.affiliation: The Parkinson's Institute, 1170 Morse Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, USA.
authors.forename: Maya G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Purisai
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cumine
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Martha Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Isla
authors.forename: Donato A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Di Monte
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005911:Gliosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000633:toxicity; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010269:Paraquat / Q000633:toxicity; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006540:Herbicides; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009498:Neurotoxins; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D008911:Minocycline; D010269:Paraquat; D004298:Dopamine