Lymphocyte proteomics of Parkinson's disease patients reveals cytoskeletal protein dysregulation and oxidative stress.
OBJECTIVE
There is increasing evidence of biochemical alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. In this work, we describe the changes in protein levels in peripheral lymphocytes of PD patients in order to identify potential peripheral biomarkers.


METHODS
By means of 2D electrophoresis and mass spectrometry protein identification, we compared patients under L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) treatment, patients under subthalamic nucleus deep-brain stimulation and healthy controls.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis of the results demonstrated that cofilin-1, tropomyosin, and a specific actin isoform vary significantly in patients, regardless of the therapy. Two different isoforms of gamma-fibrinogen either correlate with the disease state or with the disease duration. Eventually, specific changes associated with the different therapies allowed to highlight oxidative stress conditions in lymphocytes in patients treated with higher doses of L-DOPA.


CONCLUSIONS
As a whole, peripheral blood lymphocytes are sensitive reporters of PD over inter-individual variability, and allow the identification of specific alterations that could be further exploited for diagnostic purposes.
Mila
Silvia
S
Department of Structural & Functional Biology & Center of Neuroscience, University of Insubria, Via Alberto da Giussano 12, 21052, Busto Arsizio (VA), Italy.
Albo
Alessandra Giuliano
AG
Corpillo
Davide
D
Giraudo
Sabrina
S
Zibetti
Maurizio
M
Bucci
Enrico M
EM
Lopiano
Leonardo
L
Fasano
Mauro
M