Neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease

R. Lee Mosley, Eric J. Benner, Irena Kadiu, Mark Thomas, Michael D. Boska, Khader Hasan, Chad Laurie, Howard E. Gendelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

313 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neuroinflammatory processes play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Epidemiologic, animal, human, and therapeutic studies all support the presence of a neuroinflammatory cascade in disease. This is highlighted by the neurotoxic potential of microglia. In steady-state, microglia serve to protect the nervous system by acting as debris scavengers, killers of microbial pathogens, and regulators of innate and adaptive immune responses. In neurodegenerative diseases, activated microglia affect neuronal injury and death through production of glutamate, pro-inflammatory factors, reactive oxygen species, quinolinic acid among others and by mobilization of adaptive immune responses and cell chemotaxis leading to transendothelial migration of immunocytes across the blood-brain barrier and perpetuation of neural damage. As disease progresses, inflammatory secretions engage neighboring glial cells, including astrocytes and endothelial cells, resulting in a vicious cycle of autocrine and paracrine amplification of inflammation perpetuating tissue injury. Such pathogenic processes contribute to neurodegeneration in PD. Research from others and our own laboratories seek to harness such inflammatory processes with the singular goal of developing therapeutic interventions that positively affect the tempo and progression of human disease.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)261-281
Number of pages21
JournalClinical Neuroscience Research
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006

Keywords

  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
  • Dopaminergic neurodegeneration
  • Dopaminergic neurons
  • Free radicals
  • Inflammation
  • Microglia
  • Oxidative stress
  • Parkinson's disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

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