Regulation of Protein Synthesis and Apoptosis in Lymphocytes of Parkinson Patients: The Effect of Dopaminergic Treatment

Abstract

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, presumably due to increased apoptosis. In previous studies, we showed altered expression of proteins involved in mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) antiapoptotic and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR) apoptotic pathways of translational control in experimental cellular and animal models of PD. Results: In this work, our results showed clear modifications in the expression of kinases involved in mTOR and PKR apoptosis pathways, in lymphocytes of PD patients treated or not with anti-PD treatment (levodopa), which confirmed the role played by apoptosis in the pathogenesis of this disease and the positive effect of treatment with medication on this parameter. Others proteins involved in apo­ptosis were also evaluated in lymphocytes of patients as the expression of the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor and caspase-3. Conclusion: Translational control is altered in PD and hence its evaluation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells may serve as an early marker of apoptosis and indicate the efficacy of the dopaminergic treatment.