Journal
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
Volume 16, Issue 2, Pages 116-126Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s12640-009-9058-5
Keywords
Estrogen; Parkinson's disease; Oxidative stress; Thioredoxin; p38 MAP kinase; Daxx
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) is lower in women compared to men (1:1.46), which is reflected in animal models. However, precise mechanisms are unclear. Administration of MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine) to female mice does not lead to mitochondrial complex I inhibition as seen in males and the progressive dopaminergic cell loss in substantia nigra (SNpc) is significantly attenuated. Redox driven apoptotic signaling pathways regulated by thiol disulfide oxidoreductase(s) have been implicated in the neurodegeneration seen in PD. Oxidation of thioredoxin leads to activation of apoptosis signal regulating kinase 1 (ASK1; MAPKKK) initiating cell death cascade through MAP kinase(s). Higher constitutive expression of enzymes involved in cellular redox maintenance, such as glutathione reductase, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase is observed in female brain. Exposure to MPTP activates ASK1 in male but not in female mice. Higher expression of Trx in females potentially prevents ASK1 activation. Downstream of ASK1, phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase is seen in male but not female mice. Expression of DJ-1, the redox sensing protein is higher in females and the loss of nuclear DJ-1, followed by translocation of Daxx (death associated protein) from the nucleus to the cytosol, which promotes ASK1 mediated death cascade is not seen in females. The enzymes involved in redox maintenance potentially could play a crucial role in preventing the activation of redox driven death signaling cascade and offer neuroprotection. Theraupeutic strategies that help maintain redox homeostasis may help prevent the progressive neurodegeneration seen in PD.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available