Blood Of Parkinson's Disease Patients Research Articles

Alterations in Blood Methylome as Potential Epigenetic Biomarker in Sporadic Parkinson's Disease.

To characterize DNA methylation (DNAm) differences between sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy control (HC) individuals enrolled in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). Using whole blood, we characterized longitudinal differences in DNAm between sporadic PD patients (n = 196) and HCs (n = 86) enrolled in PPMI. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was used to conduct gene expression analyses for genes mapped to differentially methylated cytosine-guanine sites (CpGs). At the time of patient enrollment, 5,178 CpGs were differentially methylated (2,683 hypermethylated and 2,495 hypomethylated) in PD compared to HC. Of these, 579 CpGs underwent significant methylation changes over 3 years. Several differentially methylated CpGs were found near the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily E member 1 (CYP2E1) gene. Additionally, multiple hypermethylated CpGs were associated with the N-myc downregulated gene family member 4 (NDRG4) gene. RNA-Seq analyses showed 75 differentially expressed genes in PD patients compared to controls. An integrative analysis of both differentially methylated sites and differentially expressed genes revealed 20 genes that exhibited hypomethylation concomitant with overexpression. Additionally, 1 gene, cathepsin H (CTSH), displayed hypermethylation that was associated with its decreased expression. We provide initial evidence of alterations in DNAm in blood of PD patients that may serve as potential epigenetic biomarker of disease. To evaluate the significance of these changes throughout the progression of PD, additional profiling at longer intervals and during the prodromal stages of disease will be necessary. ANN NEUROL 2024.

Common microRNA regulated pathways in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation. Recently, miRNA dysregulation has been found in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The diagnosis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is currently challenging, mainly occurring when pathology is already present, and although treatments are available for both diseases, the role of treatment is primarily to prevent or delay the progress of the diseases instead of fully overcoming the diseases. Therefore, the challenge in the near future will be to determine effective drugs to tackle the dysregulated biological pathways in neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we describe the dysregulation of miRNAs in blood of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients with the aim to identify common mechanisms between the 2 pathologies and potentially to identify common therapeutic targets which can stop or delay the progression of two most frequent neuropathologies. Two independent systematic reviews, bioinformatic analysis, and experiment validation were performed to identify whether AD and PD share common pathways. A total of 15 common miRNAs were found in the literature and 13 common KEGG pathways. Among the common miRNAs, two were selected for validation in a small cohort of AD and PD patients. Let-7f-5p and miR-29b-3p showed to be good predictors in blood of PD patients.

Transcriptomics and Proteomics Approach for the Identification of Altered Blood microRNAs and Plasma Proteins in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the selective destruction of dopaminergic neurons (DA-nergic). Clinically, PD is diagnosed based on developing signs and symptoms. A neurological and physical examination and sometimes medical and family history also help in the diagnosis of PD. However, most of these features are visible when more than 80% of the dopaminergic neurons have degenerated. An understanding of the selective degeneration process at the cellular and molecular level and the development of new biomarkers are required for effective PD management. Several studies have been carried out using a selected set of miRNAs/ mRNAs and proteins to develop biomarkers of PD; however, an unbiased and combined miRNA-protein profiling study was required to identify the markers of progressive and selected degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD patients. In the present study, we have carried out global protein profiling through LC-MS/MS and miRNA profiling by using a "brain-specific" miRNA array panel of 112 miRNAs in PD patients and healthy controls to find the unprejudiced group of proteins and miRNAs that are deregulating in PD. In the whole blood samples of PD patients compared to healthy controls, the expression of 23 miRNAs and 289 proteins was significantly increased, whereas the expression of 4 miRNAs and 132 proteins was considerably downregulated. Network analysis, functional enrichment, annotation, and analysis of miRNA-protein interactions were alsoperformed as part of the bioinformatics investigation of the discovered miRNAs and proteins revealing several pathways that lead to PD development and pathogenesis. Based on the analysis of miRNA and protein profiling, we have identified four miRNAs (hsa-miR-186-5p, miR-29b, miR-139 & has-miR-150-5p) and four proteins (YWHAZ, PSMA4, HYOU1, & SERPINA1), which can be targeted for the development of new biomarkers of PD. In vitro studies have identified the role of miR-186-5p in regulating the levels of the YWHAZ/YWHAB & CALM2 gene, which has shown maximum downregulation in PD patients and is known for its role in neuroprotection from apoptotic cell death & calcium regulation. In conclusion, our research has identified a group of miRNA-proteins that can be developed as PD biomarkers; however, future studies on the release of these miRNAs and proteins in extracellular vesicles circulating in the blood of PD patients can further validate these as specific biomarkers of PD.

Oxidative stress parameters and their relation to motor subtype of Parkinson's disease and levodopa treatment status.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an oxidative stress-linked neurodegenerative disorder, with the highest prevalence among seniors. The objective of this study were: (1) to analyse levels of following oxidative stress parameters: total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid (UA), total glutathione (tGSH), bilirubin (Bil) and albumin (Alb), in blood of PD patients and healthy controls; (2) to find possible associations of examined oxidative stress parameters with PD subtypes and levodopa treatment status; and (3) to evaluate power and relevance of the aforementioned oxidative stress parameter for the prediction of onset and progression of PD by utilizing Random Forest machine learning (RFML). Oxidative stress parameters were determined in 125 PD patients and 55 healthy controls. Evaluated with frequentist statistics, our data revealed that UA is the only oxidative stress parameter associated with PD. However, when the PD cohort was divided in gender-dependent manner, tGSH and Bil were also significantly associated with PD in subgroup of female patients. RFML rendered no predictive power of any of the tested oxidative stress parameters in respect to PD, its subtypes, and/or status of levodopa treatment. In conclusion, despite the positive association of UA with PD (in complete cohort of PD patients) and of tGSH and Bil with PD but only in female patients, these oxidative stress parameters are of no use in clinical practice due to the lack of the predictive/diagnostic power.

Virome analysis provides new insights into the association between viruses and Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a kind of neurodegenerative disease that causes a huge burden to society. Previous studies have suggested the association between PD and multiple viruses. However, there is still a lack of a virome study about PD. This study systematically identified viruses from the public RNA-sequencing data of more than 700 samples from both PD patients and the control group (most were healthy people). Only nine viruses such as human betaherpesvirus 5 and Merkel cell polyomavirus have been detected in several human brain tissues of the central nervous system, the appendix, and blood of PD patients, and all of these viruses were also detected in the control group. Most viruses were observed to have low abundance in no more than three tissues. No statistically significant differences were observed between the virus abundance in the PD patients and the control group for all viruses. The positive rates of most viruses in PD patients were higher or similar to that in the control group, although those were less than 5% for most viruses. Overall, this is the first study to systematically investigate the virome in PD patients, and provides new insights into the association between viruses and PD.

Expression of BDNF-Associated lncRNAs in Parkinson's disease.

Decreased level of neurotrophic factor brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been supposed to participate in the pathoetiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms of its dysregulation and the functional network between this factor and other transcripts have not been elucidated. In the current study, we measured expressions of BDNF, and four related long non-coding RNAs, namely BDNF-AS, MIR137HG, MIAT and PNKY in blood of PD patients and normal controls to find their expression levels in these patients and propose a possible mechanism for dysregulation of BDNF in PD patients. Notably, we detected down-regulation of all transcripts in the circulation of PD patients compared with controls. There was no significant difference in expression of either gene between male and female PD patients or patients receiving L-Dopa versus those receiving other drugs. Expression of none of genes was correlated with age, disease duration, disease stage, MMSE or UPDRS. Dynamic principal component analysis showed that expression levels of these genes almost clearly separated samples collected from healthy controls and PD patients into their respective groups. This suggests that the observed lncRNAs differences are associated with the pathophysiology of PD, and these lncRNAs might constitute an important biomarker signature for PD.

Inflammatory Responses to Monomeric and Aggregated α-Synuclein in Peripheral Blood of Parkinson Disease Patients.

To investigate whether different forms of α-synuclein (α-syn) proteins can induce inflammation and activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, we stimulated with monomeric or aggregated α-syn peripheral blood mononuclear cells of Parkinson disease (PD) patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). ASC-speck formation, i.e., the intracellular generation of functionally active inflammasome complexes, as well as the production of inflammasome-related [caspase-1, interleukin 1β (IL-18), and IL-1β], and pro–IL-6, or anti–IL-10 inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Gastrointestinal permeability, suggested to be altered in PD, was also investigated by measuring plasma concentration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and I-FABP (fatty acid–binding protein). ASC-speck expression, as well as IL-18 and caspase-1 production and LPS and I-FABP plasma concentration, was comparable in PD and HC, indicating that α-syn does not stimulate the NLRP3 inflammasome and that PD does not associate with alterations of intestinal permeability. Interestingly, though, IL-1β and IL-6 production was increased, whereas that of IL-10 was reduced in α-syn–stimulated cells of PD compared to HC, suggesting that PD-associated neuroinflammation is not the consequence of the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome but rather of an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Transcription factor Nurr1 in dopamine neuron development and neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson's disease

Previously our laboratory and others found that Nurr1 is the most important transcription factor dictating dopamine neuron genesis, differentiation and functional maintenance. Knockout Nurr1 gene specifically causes dopamine neuron death in the substantial nigra of midbrain, where it is mostly affected in Parkinson disease (PD). Later we demonstrated that Nurr1 is closely associated with PD. We identified several Nurr1 gene defects in a few familial cases of PD, and we detected significant low levels of Nurr1 expression in the blood of PD patients. Furthermore, we documented that Nurr1 may have an interaction with PD-related protein α-synuclein and down-regulation of Nurr1 can increase α-synuclein expression in neuronal cells. Moreover, we and other laboratory recently demonstrated that Nurr1 may have a regulation effect on glia function and knock-out Nurr1 gene in microglia may cause glia-mediated neuronal injury. Therefore, we believe that Nurr1 may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of PD.

Large-scale pathway specific polygenic risk and transcriptomic community network analysis identifies novel functional pathways in Parkinson disease

Polygenic inheritance plays a central role in Parkinson disease (PD). A priority in elucidating PD etiology lies in defining the biological basis of genetic risk. Unraveling how risk leads to disruption will yield disease-modifying therapeutic targets that may be effective. Here, we utilized a high-throughput and hypothesis-free approach to determine biological processes underlying PD using the largest currently available cohorts of genetic and gene expression data from International Parkinson’s Disease Genetics Consortium (IPDGC) and the Accelerating Medicines Partnership-Parkinson’s disease initiative (AMP-PD), among other sources. We applied large-scale gene-set specific polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses to assess the role of common variation on PD risk focusing on publicly annotated gene sets representative of curated pathways. We nominated specific molecular sub-processes underlying protein misfolding and aggregation, post-translational protein modification, immune response, membrane and intracellular trafficking, lipid and vitamin metabolism, synaptic transmission, endosomal–lysosomal dysfunction, chromatin remodeling and apoptosis mediated by caspases among the main contributors to PD etiology. We assessed the impact of rare variation on PD risk in an independent cohort of whole-genome sequencing data and found evidence for a burden of rare damaging alleles in a range of processes, including neuronal transmission-related pathways and immune response. We explored enrichment linked to expression cell specificity patterns using single-cell gene expression data and demonstrated a significant risk pattern for dopaminergic neurons, serotonergic neurons, hypothalamic GABAergic neurons, and neural progenitors. Subsequently, we created a novel way of building de novo pathways by constructing a network expression community map using transcriptomic data derived from the blood of PD patients, which revealed functional enrichment in inflammatory signaling pathways, cell death machinery related processes, and dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis. Our analyses highlight several specific promising pathways and genes for functional prioritization and provide a cellular context in which such work should be done.

Increased Serum Levels of Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Subjects With Parkinson's Disease.

BackgroundMesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) and cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) promote the survival of midbrain dopamine neurons in animal models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, little is known about endogenous concentrations of MANF and CDNF in human PD patients, and their relation to PD pathogenesis. Our main objective was to study whether circulating concentrations of MANF and CDNF differ between PD patients and controls, and if they correlate with clinical parameters. Levels of circulating CDNF were studied for the first time.MethodsMANF and CDNF levels were measured from serum samples of 34 PD patients and 35 controls using validated in-lab-designed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs). MANF and CDNF mRNA levels in whole blood samples of 60 PD patients and 30 controls were measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). MANF concentrations in different blood cell types were measured by ELISA.ResultsCirculating MANF concentrations were significantly higher in PD patients compared to controls (P < 0.001) and were positively correlated with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) depression rating. MANF protein was present in blood cells, however, MANF mRNA levels in the blood did not differ between PD patients and controls (P = 0.44). The mean concentration of serum CDNF was 33 pg/ml in the controls. CDNF levels were not altered in PD patients (P = 0.25).ConclusionMANF but not CDNF level was increased in the blood of PD patients. It would be interesting to examine the blood level of MANF from early stage PD patients in future studies to test whether MANF can be used as a clinical marker of PD.

Th17 Lymphocytes Induce Neuronal Cell Death in a Human iPSC-Based Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of midbrain neurons (MBNs). Recent evidence suggests contribution of the adaptive immune system in PD. Here, we show a role for human T lymphocytes as cell death inducers of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MBNs in sporadic PD. Higher Th17 frequencies were found in the blood of PD patients and increased numbers of T lymphocytes were detected in postmortem PD brain tissues. We modeled this finding using autologous co-cultures of activated T lymphocytes and iPSC-derived MBNs of sporadic PD patients and controls. After co-culture with T lymphocytes or the addition of IL-17, PD iPSC-derived MBNs underwent increased neuronal death driven by upregulation of IL-17 receptor (IL-17R) and NFκB activation. Blockage of IL-17 or IL-17R, or the addition of the FDA-approved anti-IL-17 antibody, secukinumab, rescued the neuronal death. Our findings indicate a critical role for IL-17-producing T lymphocytes in sporadic PD.

The Oligomer Hypothesis in α-Synucleinopathy.

Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the brain constitute the main histopathological features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies. They comprise amyloid-like fibrils composed of α-synuclein (αS), a small protein (~14kDa). Because the aggregation of αS in the brain has been implicated as a critical step in the development of these diseases, the research for disease-modifying drugs has focused on modification of the αS aggregation process in the brain. Recent studies using synthetic αS peptides, a cell culture model, transgenic mice models, and human samples such as cerebrospinal fluids and the blood of PD patients have suggested that pre-fibrillar forms of αS (i.e., oligomers) are more critical than fibrillar forms (such as Lewy bodies) in the pathogenesis of α-synucleinopathies. Based on the accumulating evidence that oligomers play a central role in the pathogenesis of PD and other α-synucleinopathies (the "oligomer hypothesis"). This report reviews the recent findings regarding the oligomer hypothesis in the research of α-synucleinopathies.

Overexpression of alpha-synuclein at non-toxic levels increases dopaminergic cell death induced by copper exposure via modulation of protein degradation pathways

Gene multiplications or point mutations in alpha (α)-synuclein are associated with familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). An increase in copper (Cu) levels has been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of PD patients, while occupational exposure to Cu has been suggested to augment the risk to develop PD. We aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which α-synuclein and Cu regulate dopaminergic cell death. Short-term overexpression of wild type (WT) or mutant A53T α-synuclein had no toxic effect in human dopaminergic cells and primary midbrain cultures, but it exerted a synergistic effect on Cu-induced cell death. Cell death induced by Cu was potentiated by overexpression of the Cu transporter protein 1 (Ctr1) and depletion of intracellular glutathione (GSH) indicating that the toxic effects of Cu are linked to alterations in its intracellular homeostasis. Using the redox sensor roGFP, we demonstrated that Cu-induced oxidative stress was primarily localized in the cytosol and not in the mitochondria. However, α-synuclein overexpression had no effect on Cu-induced oxidative stress. WT or A53T α-synuclein overexpression exacerbated Cu toxicity in dopaminergic and yeast cells in the absence of α-synuclein aggregation. Cu increased autophagic flux and protein ubiquitination. Impairment of autophagy by overexpression of a dominant negative Atg5 form or inhibition of the ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) with MG132 enhanced Cu-induced cell death. However, only inhibition of the UPS stimulated the synergistic toxic effects of Cu and α-synuclein overexpression. Our results demonstrate that α-synuclein stimulates Cu toxicity in dopaminergic cells independent from its aggregation via modulation of protein degradation pathways.

Biomarkers in Parkinson Disease: global gene expression analysis in peripheral blood from patients with and without mutations in PARK2 and PARK8.

To evaluate the performance of gene expression analysis in the peripheral blood of Parkinson disease patients with different genetic profiles using microarray as a tool to identify possible diseases related biomarkers which could contribute to the elucidation of the pathological process, as well as be useful in diagnosis. Global gene expression analysis by means of DNA microarrays was performed in peripheral blood of Parkinson disease patients with previously identified mutations in PARK2 or PARK8 genes, Parkinson disease patients without known mutations in these genes and normal controls. Each group consisted of five individuals. Global gene expression profiles were heterogeneous among patients and controls, and it was not possible to detect a consistent pattern between groups. However, analyzing genes with differential expression of p < 0.005 and fold change ≥ 1.2, we were able to identify a small group of well-annotated genes. Despite the small sample size, the identification of differentially expressed genes suggests that the microarray technique may be useful in identifying potential biomarkers in the peripheral blood of Parkinson disease patients or in people at risk of developing the disease. This will be important once neuroprotective therapies become available, and may contribute to the identification of new pathways involved in the disease physiopathology. Results presented here should be further validated in larger groups of patients.

Plasma lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of Parkinson's disease patients in the Indian population

Present study was to assess lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in the blood of the Parkinson's disease (PD) patients in the Indian population. It may be useful to develop peripheral markers, for the diagnosis and prognosis of Parkinson's disease during lifetime. Malondialdehyde content was increased in patients with PD (2 fold), with respect to the activity of superoxide-dismutase ( p<0.001). The levels of glutathione ( p<0.001) and blood thiols were decreased. No changes were observed in gamma-GTP, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Increased lipid peroxidation, decreased glutathione levels and increased superoxide dismutase activity in the blood of PD patients indicate oxidative stress.

Quantification of trace elements by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in urine, serum, blood and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease

To assess whether levels of trace metals and oxidative species are involved in Parkinson's disease (PD), Al, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and V were measured in urine, serum, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum peroxides and antioxidant capacity were determined in 26 patients with PD and 13 control subjects. The quantification of metals was based on the 1+4 water dilution of CSF, serum and urine, the acid-assisted microwave digestion under atmospheric pressure of blood and final determination by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Results indicated a significant increase of Pb and V concentrations in blood and urine ( P≤0.03, in both cases) related to the disease. Parkinson disease also seemed to be closely associated ( P≤0.003) with a reduction in levels of Al, Cd, Hg and Pb in serum and of Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Pb in CSF. As regards Mn, a lower mean concentration was found in the CSF and whole blood of PD patients than in control group, although this trend was not statistically significant. Levels of peroxides were also increased ( P≤0.001), while antioxidant capacity was lower ( P≤0.002) in PD patients than in controls.

Trace and major elements in whole blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid and urine of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Quantifications of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Si and Zn were performed in urine, serum, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 26 patients affected by Parkinson's disease (PD) and 13 age-matched controls to ascertain the potential role of biological fluids as markers for this pathology. Analyses were performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry and Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The serum oxidant status (SOS) and anti-oxidant capacity (SAC) were also determined. Results showed a decreasing trend for Al in all the fluids of PD patients, with the strongest evidence in serum. Calcium levels in urine, serum and blood of PD patients were significantly higher than in controls. Copper and Mg concentrations were significantly lower in serum of PD patients. Levels of Fe in urine, blood and CSF of patients and controls were dissimilar, with an increase in the first two matrices and a decrease in CSF. No significant difference was found in levels of Mn between patients and controls. Urinary excretion of Si was significantly higher in PD subjects than in controls. No clear difference between Zn levels in the two groups was found for serum, urine or CSF, but an increase in Zn levels in the blood of PD patients was observed. The SOS level in PD was significantly higher while the corresponding SAC was found to be lower in patients than in controls, in line with the hypothesis that oxidative damage is a key factor in the pathogenesis of PD. The results on the whole indicate the involvement of Fe and Zn (increased concentration in blood) as well as of Cu (decreased serum level) in PD. The augmented levels of Ca and Mg in the fluids and of Si in urine of patients may suggest an involuntary intake of these elements during therapy.