title: Dopamine transporter immunoreactivity in peripheral blood lymphocytes in multiple system atrophy.
abstract: Previous studies showed the reduction of dopamine transporter immunoreactivity (DAT-IR) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in Parkinson's disease. Here we report the reduction of DAT-IR in PBL in the extrapyramidal variant of multiple system atrophy. These results suggest the reduction of DAT-IR in PBL in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, provided the presence of damage of the central dopaminergic systems. The reduction of DAT-IR in PBL in these disorders may represent a compensatory phenomenon aimed at reducing intracellular dopamine influx and, consequently, dopamine-mediated aggravation of oxidative stress in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Sciences, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Buttarelli
authors.forename: Annapia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Circella
authors.forename: Clelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellicano
authors.forename: Dorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tiple
authors.forename: Morena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovannelli
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colosimo
authors.forename: Francesco E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Pontieri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D015259:Dopamine Agents; D050483:Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007980:Levodopa