Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2026
23:53
Ole Isacson: Development of New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Published on: April 29, 2007
PPAR: a therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease
Rajnish K Chaturvedi1, M Flint Beal
1Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Journal of Neurochemistry
|April 4, 2008
Summary
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists show neuroprotective effects against Parkinson's disease (PD) by regulating genes involved in cell survival. These findings suggest PPAR agonists could be a promising therapeutic target for PD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss.
- Current PD treatments offer symptomatic relief but do not halt disease progression.
- Oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in PD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the neuroprotective effects of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective actions of PPAR agonists.
- To evaluate PPAR agonists as potential therapeutic targets for PD.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vitro and in vivo studies on PPAR agonists in Parkinson's disease models.
- Analysis of research on the role of PPAR in regulating genes involved in cell survival.
- Examination of epidemiological studies on PPAR-activating drugs and neurodegenerative disease incidence.
Main Results:
- PPAR agonists demonstrate neuroprotective activity against oxidative damage, inflammation, and apoptosis in neurodegenerative models.
- Regular intake of PPAR-activating non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is associated with reduced neurodegenerative disease incidence and progression.
- PPAR agonists regulate gene expression involved in cell survival processes.
Conclusions:
- PPAR agonists exert neuroprotective effects in Parkinson's disease models.
- PPAR agonists represent a potential therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease.
- Targeting PPAR may offer a novel approach for treating neurodegenerative illnesses like PD.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
01:24Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
01:27Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Enzyme-linked receptors are cell-surface receptors acting as an enzyme or associating with an enzyme intracellularly. They make excellent drug targets. Drugs can bind to the extracellular ligand-binding domain or directly affect their enzymatic domain and alter their activity.
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
01:15G Protein-coupled Receptors
G Protein-Coupled Receptors or GPCRs are membrane-bound receptors that transiently associate with heterotrimeric G proteins and induce an appropriate response to sensory stimuli such as light, odors, hormones, cytokines, or neurotransmitters.
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...
GPCRs are also called heptahelical, 7TM, or serpentine receptors, and consist of seven (H1-H7) transmembrane alpha-helices that span the bilayer to form a cylindrical core. The transmembrane helices are connected by three extracellular loops and three...