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Published on: January 7, 2014

The involvement of neuroinflammation and kynurenine pathway in Parkinson's disease

Anna Zinger1, Carlos Barcia, Maria Trinidad Herrero

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

Parkinson'S Disease
|June 21, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Parkinson's disease involves neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity linked to the Kynurenine pathway (KP). Modulating this pathway may offer new therapeutic strategies for Parkinson's disease patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder involving midbrain dopaminergic neuron loss and neuroinflammation.
  • Activated microglia release inflammatory mediators, exacerbating neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity in PD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of the Kynurenine pathway (KP) in Parkinson's disease neuropathogenesis.
  • To investigate the potential of pharmacological modulation of the KP as a therapeutic strategy for PD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on the Kynurenine pathway, microglia activation, and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signaling in PD.
  • Analysis of the neuroactive compounds generated by the KP and their effects on neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.

Main Results:

  • The Kynurenine pathway (KP) regulates immune responses and is implicated in parkinsonism's inflammatory processes.
  • KP intermediates can activate NMDA receptor signaling, leading to excitotoxicity, while NMDA antagonists show neuroprotective effects in PD.
  • Evidence links KP intermediates to PD neuropathogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • The Kynurenine pathway plays a significant role in the inflammatory aspects of Parkinson's disease.
  • Targeting the Kynurenine pathway pharmacologically presents a promising therapeutic avenue for treating Parkinson's disease.

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