title: Peripheral leukocyte apoptosis in patients with Parkinsonism: correlation with clinical characteristics and neuroimaging findings.
abstract: Apoptosis of both brain neurons and peripheral blood leukocyte is believed to be an important biomarker for evaluating the functional status of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, their correlation remains unknown. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodegeneration is essential for the treatment and prevention of PD. The present study demonstrated that leukocyte apoptosis is significantly higher in PD patients and is associated with central dopamine neuron loss by using (99m)Tc-TRODAT-1 SPECT. The leukocyte apoptosis and striatal dopamine transporter uptake ratios were further associated with increased severity and longer duration of disease. The interaction between brain and systemic inflammation may be responsible for the neurodegenerative disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Che
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5258-8569
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nai-Wen
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuei-Yueh
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shau-Hsuan
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7140-9132
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Jih
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7274-3458
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Hsiang
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0201-9015
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsui-Min
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Hsiao
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, 123 Ta Pei Road, Niao Sung, Kaohsiung 83305, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon