title: Blood-brain barrier P-glycoprotein function is not impaired in early Parkinson's disease.
abstract: The cause of Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown. Genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental toxins contribute to specific neuronal loss in PD. Decreased blood-brain barrier (BBB) P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux function has been proposed as a possible causative link between toxin exposure and PD neurodegeneration. In the present study BBB P-gp function was investigated in vivo in 10 early stage PD patients and 8 healthy control subjects using (R)-[(11)C]-verapamil and PET. Cerebral volume of distribution (V(d)) of verapamil was used as measure of P-gp function. Both region of interest (ROI) analysis and voxel analysis using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) were performed to assess regional brain P-gp function. In addition, MDR1 genetic polymorphism was assessed. In the present study, a larger variation in V(d) of (R)-[(11)C]-verapamil was seen in the PD group as compared to the control group. However, decreased BBB P-gp function in early stage PD patients could not be confirmed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands. a.l.bartels@neuro.umcg.nl
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: B N M
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: van Berckel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lubberink
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Luurtsema
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lammertsma
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Leenders
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014700:Verapamil
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014700:Verapamil