title: GDNF-Ret signaling in midbrain dopaminergic neurons and its implication for Parkinson disease.
abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and its canonical receptor Ret can signal together or independently to fulfill many important functions in the midbrain dopaminergic (DA) system. While Ret signaling clearly impacts on the development, maintenance and regeneration of the mesostriatal DA system, the physiological functions of GDNF for the DA system are still unclear. Nevertheless, GDNF is still considered to be an excellent candidate to protect and/or regenerate the mesostriatal DA system in Parkinson disease (PD). Clinical trials with GDNF on PD patients are, however, so far inconclusive. Here, we review the current knowledge of GDNF and Ret signaling and function in the midbrain DA system, and their crosstalk with proteins and signaling pathways associated with PD.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Development and Maintenance of the Nervous System, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. Electronic address: edgar.kramer@uni-ulm.de.
authors.forename: Edgar R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physiology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
chemical_list: C495039:GDNF protein, human; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D051096:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret; C099282:RET protein, human; D004298:Dopamine
keywords: Dopaminergic system; Drug addiction; Glia cell line-derived neurotrophic factor; Mouse model; Parkinson disease; Rearranged during transfection