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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
GSDMD-Deficient G-MDSCs Exert Profoundly Suppressive Activity to Relieve MPTP-Induced Parkinson's Disease
Qi Wu1, Fangzhou Liu1, Min Gu1
1Department of Basic Medicine, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
Aims:
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are elevated in Parkinson's disease (PD), but their functional role remains unclear. This study investigated whether GSDMD deficiency enhances the immunosuppressive activity of granulocytic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) to mitigate PD progression.
Methods:
Flow cytometry and Western blot analyzed G/M-MDSCs in 37 PD patients and 21 controls. An MPTP-induced PD mouse model was used to assess GSDMD-deficient G-MDSCs through behavioral tests, immunohistochemistry, and adoptive transfer experiments. The NLRP3 inhibitor ACT001 was evaluated for therapeutic potential.
Results:
PD patients and MPTP-treated mice showed increased peripheral G-MDSCs with reduced NLRP3/GSDMD activation. GSDMD knockout mice exhibited attenuated PD symptoms, reversed by MDSCs depletion. Adoptive transfer of GSDMD-deficient G-MDSCs suppressed microglial activation and improved motor function. ACT001 enhanced G-MDSCs immunosuppression and alleviated PD pathology.
Conclusion:
GSDMD deficiency promotes immunosuppressive G-MDSCs that inhibit neuroinflammation and PD progression. Targeting GSDMD to modulate MDSCs' function represents a novel therapeutic strategy for PD.
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