Parkinson's disease: Study focuses on regulation of dopamine levels

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.

 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.

"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

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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>