title: CD4+ T cells mediate cytotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Neuroinflammation, characterized by activated microglia and infiltrating T cells, is a prominent pathological feature in neurodegenerative diseases. However, whether this inflammation contributes to neuronal injury or is a late consequence of neuronal injury is unclear. In this issue of the JCI, Brochard et al. report that CD4+ T cells are cytotoxic in a mouse model of Parkinson disease (PD) (see the related article beginning on page 182). Specifically, invading T lymphocytes contributed to neuronal cell death via the Fas/FasL pathway. The results implicate the adaptive immune system in the pathogenesis of Parkinson neurodegeneration and provide a meaningful rationale for immune-based therapies for PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Methodist Neurological Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA. sappel@tmhs.org
authors.forename: Stanley H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Appel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D004298:Dopamine