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Published on: April 24, 2021
Dopaminergic transmissive dormancy as a protective state against cellular stress
Kielen R Zuurbier1, Rene Solano Fonseca2, Jeffrey Snowden2
1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Abstract:
No therapies ensure long-term survival of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. In this context, we propose that early neurodegeneration is an adaptive state of transmissive dormancy, not dysfunction. Upon sensing cellular stress, an inducible transcriptional program restricts cytosolic dopamine and actively silences neurotransmission. This adaptive response precedes neuronal death, reframing early symptoms as programmed dormancy rather than frank degeneration. Thus, reactivation strategies represent a compelling new approach to perhaps revive neural networks and abrogate disease. This principle may extend beyond the dopaminergic system and offers a new perspective on neurodegeneration.
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