Role of DJ-1 in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, is a multifactorial disease caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Although most patients suffering from PD have a sporadic disease, several genetic causes have been identified in recent years, including alpha-synuclein, parkin, PINK1, dardarin (LRRK2), and DJ-1. DJ-1 deletions and point mutations have been found worldwide, and loss of functional protein was shown to cause autosomal recessive PD. Moreover, DJ-1 immunoreactive inclusions are found in other alpha-synucleopathies and tauopathies, indicating that different neurodegenerative diseases might share a common mechanism in which DJ-1 might play a key role. The function of DJ-1 is still unknown; however, it is associated with various cellular processes, including response to oxidative stress, cellular transformation, RNAbinding, androgen-receptor signaling, spermatogenesis, and fertilization. This article reviews the current knowledge on DJ-1, focusing on its importance in the pathogenesis of PD.