There are many rare diseases that are not yet fully understood, with Parkinson’s disease being one of them. Medical professionals have discovered a lot about the underlying causes of the disease, but they still don’t know exactly why neurons in the brain break down and die. However, they have identified a number of risk factors, and recent research has given us a better understanding of these factors. A team of researchers from the University of Pittsburgh has discovered that transporter proteins play a role in the differences between Parkinson’s in males and females. The study, published in Aging Cell, demonstrates why males are at a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease.
About the Study
Officially titled “Vesticular glutamate transporter modulates sex differences in dopamine neuron vulnerability to age-related neurodegeneration,” this study investigated how female brains have higher levels of transporter proteins, therefore protecting them more from death and degeneration of neurons. The protein, called vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT), gives medical professionals a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Parkinson’s. In the future, it may become a target for treatment.
The researchers were already aware that males live with a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, but they did not know why. They decided to investigate VGLUT, a transporter protein that aids in the communication between nerve cells. Previous research has demonstrated that this protein is commonly found in a portion of dopaminergic neurons that are more resistant to degeneration than others.
Armed with this information, the researchers used fruit flies to evaluate fluctuations in dopaminergic neuron VGLUT levels in regards to sex and age. They found that female flies lived with much higher levels, and they increased with age regardless of sex. On the other hand, they noted that mobility and dopaminergic neurons decreased greatly with age. Further investigation with mouse models showed that blocking the production of VGLUT within neurons made them more likely to die off.
Based on these results, the next step was to boost levels of the transporter protein to help neurons survive. Unfortunately, the researchers found that simply raising these levels was unsuccessful and that the proteins had to be finely tuned. This lets the team know that further research is needed, but their findings are still very helpful in understanding Parkinson’s.
Their next step is to define the role that VGLUT levels play in dopaminergic neurons. They also plan to investigate other factors, such as sex hormones, and how to apply these findings to future therapies.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system (CNS). It is characterized by its effect on movement through five different stages. As the disease progresses, severity increases. Stage one is characterized by subtle tremors on one side of the body. In stage two symptoms are more noticeable, with tremors and rigidity on both sides of the body. Stage three brings loss of balance and slowed movement. Stage four makes it impossible for one to live independently. Stage five is the most severe, as patients cannot stand or walk. Hallucinations and delusions are common symptoms of this stage.
Parkinson’s disease occurs due to the death of motor neurons, some of which produce dopamine. Dopamine is important in the transmittance of messages to the muscles from the brain, so the loss of dopamine results in the loss of motor functions. Abnormal brain activity occurs when these neurons are lost. Doctors do not know why these motor neurons die, but they do suspect a few factors that play a role, such as genetics, environmental factors like toxins, and Lewy bodies.
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