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Updated: Mar 25, 2026

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
Neuroprotective Transcription Factors in Animal Models of Parkinson Disease
François-Xavier Blaudin de Thé1, Hocine Rekaik1, Alain Prochiantz1
1Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Labex Memolife, CNRS UMR 7241, INSERM U1050, Collège de France, 11 place Marcelin Berthelot, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
Abstract:
A number of transcription factors, including En1/2, Foxa1/2, Lmx1a/b, Nurr1, Otx2, and Pitx3, with key roles in midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron development, also regulate adult mDA neuron survival and physiology. Mouse models with targeted disruption of some of these genes display several features reminiscent of Parkinson disease (PD), in particular the selective and progressive loss of mDA neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The characterization of these animal models has provided valuable insights into various mechanisms of PD pathogenesis. Therefore, the dissection of the mechanisms and survival signalling pathways engaged by these transcription factors to protect mDA neuron from degeneration can suggest novel therapeutic strategies. The work on En1/2-mediated neuroprotection also highlights the potential of protein transduction technology for neuroprotective approaches in PD.
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