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Expression of MxA mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in Parkinson's disease

N Kawaguchi1, T Yamada, M Takahashi

  • 1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
|July 2, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Parkinson's disease patients exhibit fewer colds, potentially due to higher MxA protein production. This interferon-induced protein, MxA, may explain the reduced susceptibility to infections in Parkinson's disease.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) patients show a lower incidence of common colds.
  • MxA protein, an interferon-induced antiviral factor, is found in Lewy bodies within PD brains.
  • The role of MxA protein in PD pathogenesis and its association with reduced infection rates is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the MxA protein's mRNA expression levels in Parkinson's disease patients.
  • To explore the correlation between MxA mRNA levels and the clinical observation of reduced cold incidence in PD.

Main Methods:

  • Semiquantitative mRNA analysis using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
  • Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from PD patients and normal controls were analyzed.
  • MxA mRNA levels were measured with and without alpha-interferon (α-IFN) stimulation.

Main Results:

  • Upon α-IFN stimulation, MxA mRNA levels in PD patients and controls showed similar increases.
  • Without α-IFN stimulation, PD patients exhibited significantly lower MxA mRNA levels compared to controls.
  • These findings suggest a potentially higher basal MxA mRNA expression or altered regulation in PD.

Conclusions:

  • The study indicates altered MxA mRNA expression in Parkinson's disease patients.
  • Elevated MxA mRNA induction by interferon may contribute to the reduced incidence of colds in PD patients.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanism linking MxA protein and PD's clinical features.

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