Date:
December 11, 2014
Source:
Institut de recherches cliniques
de Montreal
Summary:
A mechanism regulating dopamine levels in the
brain has been revealed by a study on a mouse model of late onset Parkinson's
disease. Using gene expression profiling, a method to measure the activity of
thousands of genes, researchers investigated dopaminergic neurons in the
midbrain, which are nerve cells that use dopamine to send signals to other
nerve cells. These neurons are known to degenerate in Parkinson's disease.
Researchers in Montréal led by Jacques Drouin,
D.Sc., uncovered a mechanism regulating dopamine levels in the brain by working
on a mouse model of late onset Parkinson's disease. The study, conducted in
collaboration with Dr. Rory A. Fisher from the Department of Pharmacology at
the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, is published online by the
scientific journal PLoS Genetics.
"We identified the Rgs6 gene for its
restricted expression in dopaminergic neurons," explains Dr. Drouin,
Director of the Molecular Genetics laboratory at the IRCM. "We had
previously shown that this gene is itself controlled by a transcription factor
called Pitx3, which plays an important role in the survival of these neurons
Through our study, we discovered that a
defective Rgs6 gene causes the death of these neurons," adds Dr. Drouin.
"More specifically, we found that when we remove the Rgs6 gene, this
relieves a brake against excessive dopaminergic signalling. As a result, excess
free dopamine accumulation causes cellular stress, which, in turn, causes the
neurons to die. Our work thus indicates that Rgs6 could be a new target for the
development of drugs against Parkinson's disease."
According to Parkinson Society Canada, nearly
100,000 Canadians have Parkinson's disease. This progressive neurodegenerative
disease primarily affects voluntary, controlled movement. It results from the
loss of cells responsible for producing dopamine, which acts as a messenger
between brain cells that control the body's movements.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials
provided by Institut de recherches cliniques de
Montreal. Note: Materials may be edited for content and
length.
Journal Reference:
1
Panojot Bifsha, Jianqi Yang, Rory
A. Fisher, Jacques Drouin. Rgs6 is Required for Adult Maintenance of
Dopaminergic Neurons in the Ventral Substantia Nigra. PLoS Genetics,
2014; 10 (12): e1004863 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004863
Cite This Page:
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MLA
APA
Chicago
Institut de recherches cliniques
de Montreal. "Parkinson's disease: Study focuses on regulation of dopamine
levels." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 December 2014.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141211180529.htm>
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