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Oral administration of Proteus mirabilis damages dopaminergic neurons and motor functions in mice

Jin Gyu Choi1, Namkwon Kim1, In Gyoung Ju1

  • 1Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, 26, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.

Scientific Reports
|January 21, 2018
PubMed

Insights

A specific gut bacterium, Proteus mirabilis, directly causes Parkinson's disease symptoms and brain damage in mice. This bacterium increases inflammation and alpha-synuclein aggregation, suggesting a role in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Growing evidence links gut dysbiosis to Parkinson's disease (PD).
  • The specific bacterial species responsible for PD induction remain unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if a specific gut bacterium can directly cause Parkinson's disease symptoms and pathology.
  • To identify the bacterial species and its pathogenic mechanisms in PD.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of gut microbiota in PD mouse models.
  • Administration of isolated Proteus mirabilis to healthy mice.
  • Assessment of motor function, dopaminergic neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and alpha-synuclein aggregation.

Main Results:

  • Proteus mirabilis significantly increased in PD mouse models.
  • P. mirabilis administration induced motor deficits and selective dopaminergic neuronal damage in the substantia nigra and striatum.
  • P. mirabilis stimulated alpha-synuclein aggregation in the brain and colon, associated with lipopolysaccharides and gut leakage.

Conclusions:

  • Proteus mirabilis directly induces PD-like symptoms and neuropathology in mice.
  • Lipopolysaccharides from P. mirabilis may drive PD pathogenesis through gut leakage and inflammation.
  • P. mirabilis is implicated as a potential causative agent in Parkinson's disease.

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