Phosphorus and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates mitochondrial dysfunction in early and advanced Parkinson's disease.
Mitochondrial dysfunction hypothetically contributes to neuronal degeneration in patients with Parkinson's disease. While several in vitro data exist, the measurement of cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction in living patients with Parkinson's disease is challenging. Anatomical magnetic resonance imaging combined with phosphorus and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging provides information about the functional integrity of mitochondria in specific brain areas. We measured partial volume corrected concentrations of low-energy metabolites and high-energy phosphates with sufficient resolution to focus on pathology related target areas in Parkinson's disease. Combined phosphorus and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in the mesostriatal region was performed in 16 early and 13 advanced patients with Parkinson's disease and compared to 19 age-matched controls at 3 Tesla. In the putamen and midbrain of both Parkinson's disease groups, we found a bilateral reduction of high-energy phosphates such as adenosine triphophosphate and phosphocreatine as final acceptors of energy from mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast, low-energy metabolites such as adenosine diphophosphate and inorganic phosphate were within normal ranges. These results provide strong in vivo evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction of mesostriatal neurons is a central and persistent phenomenon in the pathogenesis cascade of Parkinson's disease which occurs early in the course of the disease.
Hattingen
Elke
E
Institute of Neuroradiology, J.W. Goethe University Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany. elke.hattingen@kgu.de
Magerkurth
Jörg
J
Pilatus
Ulrich
U
Mozer
Anne
A
Seifried
Carola
C
Steinmetz
Helmuth
H
Zanella
Friedhelm
F
Hilker
Rüdiger
R
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011522:Protons; D011699:Putamen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D011522:Protons; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D010758:Phosphorus; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate