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Updated: May 12, 2026

Ole Isacson: Development of New Therapies for Parkinson's Disease
Published on: April 29, 2007
Neurotransmitter CART as a New Therapeutic Candidate for Parkinson's Disease
Peizhong Mao1, Charles K Meshul, Philippe Thuillier
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA ; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA ; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
Abstract:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. To date, there is no effective treatment that halts its progression. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondria play an important role in the development of PD. Hence mitochondria-targeted approaches or agents may have therapeutic promise for treatment of the disease. Neuropeptide CART (cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript), a hypothalamus and midbrain enriched neurotransmitter with an antioxidant property, can be found in mitochondria, which is the main source of reactive oxygen species. Systemic administration of CART has been found to ameliorate dopaminergic neuronal loss and improve motor functions in a mouse model of PD. In this article, we summarize recent progress in studies investigating the relationship between CART, dopamine, and the pathophysiology of PD, with a focus on mitochondria-related topics.
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