Imbalanced estrogen metabolism in the brain: possible relevance to the etiology of Parkinson's disease

Damage to DNA by dopamine quinone and/or catechol estrogen quinones may play a significant role in the initiation of Parkinson's disease (PD). Depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts are shed from cells and excreted in urine. The aim of this study was to discover whether higher levels of estrogen-DNA adducts are associated with PD. Forty estrogen metabolites, conjugates, and DNA adducts were analyzed in urine samples from 20 PD cases and 40 matched controls by using ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of adducts in cases versus controls (P < 0.005) suggest that unbalanced estrogen metabolism could play a causal role in the initiation of PD.

Neurodegenerative disorders of protein aggregation

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that many neurodegenerative diseases involve aggregation and deposition of misfolded proteins such as amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein and polyglutamine containing proteins. This abnormal deposition of misfolded proteins produce malfunctioning of a distinctive set of neurons. It may also induce oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress and proteosomal and mitochondrial dysfunction that ultimately leads to neuronal death. While hereditary forms of disorders are caused by genetic mutations, many sporadic cases are likely to be due to genetic and environmental factors. These disorders are progressive in nature. Therefore, treatment is difficult. However, for some diseases, a growing number of treatment options such as drugs, antioxidants, cell transplantation, surgery, rehabilitation procedures and preimplantation diagnosis is available. It should be noted that many of these treatments produce unacceptable risks or adverse effects and they are of only minimal benefit for patients. In future, an understanding of the causes of protein aggregation and genetic and environmental susceptibility factors of a specific individual (or specific individual determinants) may provide a better opportunity for an effective therapeutic intervention.

Parkinson disease: etiology, pathogenesis and future of gene therapy

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder with a prevalence of 1-2% in people over the age of 50. It has a world-wide distribution and has no gender preference. The neurological hallmark of PD is the presence of Lewy bodies and is characterized by the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. The causes of PD are unknown but considerable evidence suggests a multifactorial etiology involving genetic and environmental factors. A molecular genetic approach identified three genes and at least two additional loci in rare familial forms of PD. Two of these genes are involved in the ubiquitin mediated pathway of protein degradation and the third one is a highly expressed protein in the synaptic terminal and is called alpha-synuclein. In animal models, it has been shown that use of the household pesticide which is known to contain rotenone, causes PD. Thus, a combined action of genetic and environmental factors is responsible for the pathogenesis of PD. Although use of levodopa or dopamine agonists can substantially reduce clinical symptoms, and transplantation of fetal nerve tissue still remains as an alternative therapy (although it has been recently shown to be having no overall benefit), directed delivery of glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (known to have trophic effects on dopaminergic neurons) may also be a beneficial therapeutic option for PD patients.