Neuroinflammation - A major cause for striatal dopaminergic degeneration in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNPc). Growing evidence suggests that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of PD. Activation of proinflammatory pathways have a deleterious effect on dopaminergic neurons and are key factors contributing to the development of disease pathology. Clinical and preclinical evidence show microglial activation, infiltration of lymphocyte, elevated levels of pro inflammatory cytokines in various regions of the brain. In this review, we have discussed the possible mechanisms which are responsible for neuroinflammatoin and the therapeutic strategies to rescue dopaminergic neurons from these deleterious events.