Researchers from Cima and the University Clinic of Navarra identified several modified proteins in animal models in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease before neuronal degeneration and symptoms appear.
The results were published in the journal ᲢWinOpen the door to the development of future biomarkers that will help in the early detection of people with this neurodegenerative pathology and the development of treatments for this phase of the disease.
Parkinson’s diagnosis is made when up to 50-60% of dopaminergic neurons are already lost, a process that causes disease.
Parkinson’s diagnosis is made when up to 50-60% of dopaminergic neurons are already lost, a process that causes disease. Therefore, scientists have developed an animal model to detect the evolution of neurons from their original state.
“Four weeks after the onset of the disease, the rats showed a dopaminergic loss of 30%, although they did not have any symptoms. “In this symptomatic phase, when a dopaminergic neuron dies en masse, we do not know about it, and it is in this phase that we are interested in action,” said Maria Cruz Rodriguez-Oroz, director of the Cima Neuroscience Program and the University. Department of Neurology.Navara.
It is known that the synapse, the area of the brain responsible for communication between neurons, is the one that consumes the most energy. “This is the first thing that can be done to damage neurons, so we are focusing on studying the mechanisms underlying these synaptic changes,” said the expert.
It is in this presymptomatic phase that the dopaminergic neuron dies massively without us, and it is in this phase that we are interested in action.
Maria Cruz Rodriguez-Oroz
– Studio Director
Using complex imaging and physiology techniques, we confirm that some early functional changes occur, others later, and eventually structural changes that coincide with the process of neuronal death. “All this before the motor manifestation of the disease,” adds the researcher.
Identification of new proteins
The study focused on the analysis of proteins that change from functional failure to neuronal death. “We have identified various proteins related to metabolic pathways that we already know have been altered in patients, or mechanisms that contribute to the health of this cell in the nervous system. “To do this, we were able to isolate the synaptosome, the part that contains the pre- and postsynaptic zone, which is specifically responsible for neural communication,” said Rodriguez-Oroz.
The next step is to consider these proteins as therapeutic targets for new treatments to restore synapse function.
The researcher says the next step is to consider these proteins as new therapies aimed at therapeutic targets to restore synapse function and avoid the late functional and structural changes observed in this area.
“To advance the approach to Parkinson’s disease, we need biomarkers that can determine which people will have the disease,” he said.
Source: El Diario
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