Metabolic Stress May Prompt Parkinson’s Disease

A degenerative neurological disease characterized by tremor, rigidity, stooped posture, and other symptoms, Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which neurons located in the brain’s substantia nigra region become unable to release dopamine.  Northwestern University (Illinois, USA) researchers have discovered that metabolic stress can cause these dopamine-releasing neurons to prematurely die, with the cell deaths potentially triggering the onset of Parkinson’s symptoms. James Surmeier and colleagues are now researching drugs that may counter the metabolic stress by antagonizing  calcium entry through L-type channels, and are hopeful that their “results point to a novel neuroprotective strategy for both idiopathic and familial forms of Parkinson’s disease.”

Jaime N. Guzman, Javier Sanchez-Padilla, David Wokosin, Jyothisri Kondapalli, Ema Ilijic, Paul T. Schumacker, D. James Surmeier.  “Oxidant stress evoked by pacemaking in dopaminergic neurons is attenuated by DJ-1.”  Nature, 10 November 2010.