title: Dopaminergic Receptors on CD4+ T Naive and Memory Lymphocytes Correlate with Motor Impairment in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta, α-synuclein (α-syn)-rich intraneuronal inclusions (Lewy bodies), and microglial activation. Emerging evidence suggests that CD4+ T lymphocytes contribute to neuroinflammation in PD. Since the mainstay of PD treatment is dopaminergic substitution therapy and dopamine is an established transmitter connecting nervous and immune systems, we examined CD4+ T naive and memory lymphocytes in PD patients and in healthy subjects (HS), with specific regard to dopaminergic receptor (DR) expression. In addition, the in vitro effects of α-syn were assessed on CD4+ T naive and memory cells. Results showed extensive association between DR expression in T lymphocytes and motor dysfunction, as assessed by UPDRS Part III score. In total and CD4+ T naive cells expression of D1-like DR decrease, while in T memory cells D2-like DR increase with increasing score. In vitro, α-syn increased CD4+ T memory cells, possibly to a different extent in PD patients and in HS, and affected DR expression with cell subset-specific patterns. The present results support the involvement of peripheral adaptive immunity in PD, and may contribute to develop novel immunotherapies for PD, as well as to better use of current dopaminergic antiparkinson drugs.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Natasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kustrimovic
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rasini
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legnaro
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bombelli
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aleksic
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, "C. Mondino", National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blandini
authors.affiliation: Movement Disorders Centre, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, "C. Mondino", National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Brigida
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Minafra
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riboldazzi
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology of Degenerative Diseases group and AUidias pilot-center NEURODIN, department of Biomedicine, HEALTH, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sanchez-Guajardo
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marino
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Medical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cosentino