Husna, Amity University Kolkata
What is Parkinson’s disease (PD)?
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the brain or the central nervous system which affects the balance and coordination of the body and results in shaking, loss of specific brain functions, causing both motor (e.g., Bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity) and non-motor (e.g., cognitive impairment, depression, and anxiety) symptoms in an individual.
Parkinson’s affects more than six million people worldwide hence it is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.
The mechanism behind the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD):
Researchers from the John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine have found out alpha-synuclein, a protein in the brain to be the cause of Parkinson’s disease. α-synuclein (α-syn) proteins get misfolded and accumulate in specific regions of the brain by clumping to the neuron’s surface which inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. These abnormal accumulations of the misfolded alpha-synuclein are known as alpha-synuclein fibrils. As the fibrils start to accumulate, they can spread to other healthy nerve cells and ultimately kill them. Xiaobo Mao, an assistant professor of neurology at the Institute for Cell Engineering of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine regards these findings as something remarkable since the discovery of the part of alpha-synuclein fibrils that binds to neurons can help to develop a therapeutic cure for Parkinson’s and even help to curb the disease progression.
After several molecular and cell studies, it was discovered that the C terminus of the alpha-synuclein fibrils along with a chemical p129 bind to the neurons and lead to quicker disease progression, and ultimately cell death. This was further confirmed to be present in about 95% of people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s and other Lewy body neurodegenerative diseases, dementia. The researchers concluded that a good therapeutic strategy is to target the C terminus and prevent it from binding, which would block the spread of alpha-synuclein fibrils, and slow the progression of the disease.
Farnesol: a potential cure for Parkinson’s disease
A protein PARIS is another cause of the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The accumulation of PARIS proteins in the brain prevents the manufacture of a protective protein PGC-1alpha which acts as a shield and protects the nerve cells from the accumulation of damaging free radicals.
Recently a series of tests in model organisms have confirmed that farnesol can block the activity of PARIS, as a result, it can no longer interfere with the production of PGC-1alpha. Farnesol is an ingredient that is found in food flavourings, perfumes, anti-ageing skin creams, and even some medicines. It is also naturally produced in some herbs and fruits like thyme and lemongrass, but it is unclear how much amount one can consume through diet. Some of the previous studies have shown that farnesol has the ability to fight against drug-resistant superbugs and cancer by reducing inflammation. Its potential was further confirmed by screening a large library of drugs and the study is published in the Journal of Science Translational Medicine. Analysis of brain tissue of some mice fed with food and drinks containing farnesol had twice the amount of healthy dopamine neurons in comparison to their untreated peers. The protective protein PGC-1alpha was also found to be 55% more in their brains.
Scientists are yet to discover the safe dose for humans but this discovery has opened the door to new therapies as farnesol will help to create treatments that can prevent brain damage due to Parkinson’s.
Also read: Glioma Progression influenced by Long Non-Coding RNAs
References:
1. Johns hopkins university: Researchers id location on brain protein linked to parkinson’s disease development. (2021, July 29). India Education | Latest Education News | Global Educational News | Recent Educational News. https://indiaeducationdiary.in/johns-hopkins-university-researchers-id-location-on-brain-protein-linked-to-parkinsons-disease-development/
2. Plant extract that gives perfumes their floral scent may help cure Parkinson’s disease. (2021, July 29). Study Finds. https://www.studyfinds.org/plant-extract-cure-parkinsons/
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Author’s info:
Husna is an undergraduate student of BTech Biotechnology at Amity University Kolkata. She is a research enthusiast in Immunology and Immunotherapy but she has a keen interest in various other Bioscience subjects as well. She is constantly focused on improving her knowledge and laboratory skills through various internships. She is a Scientific content writer who has knowledge in diverse backgrounds of Biotechnology.
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