Neurotransmitter CART as a New Therapeutic Candidate for Parkinson’s Disease

Pharmaceuticals

Peizhong Mao³  Charles K. Meshul²  Philippe Thuillier¹ 

[1] Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and the Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA;Research Services, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR 97239, USA;Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA

关键词: cocaine- and amphetamine- regulated transcript;    mitochondria;    antioxidant;    dopamine;    oxidative stress;    neuroprotection;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ph6010108

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. To date, there is no effective treatment that halts its progression. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondria play an important role in the development of PD. Hence mitochondria-targeted approaches or agents may have therapeutic promise for treatment of the disease. Neuropeptide CART (cocaine-amphetamine-regulated transcript), a hypothalamus and midbrain enriched neurotransmitter with an antioxidant property, can be found in mitochondria, which is the main source of reactive oxygen species. Systemic administration of CART has been found to ameliorate dopaminergic neuronal loss and improve motor functions in a mouse model of PD. In this article, we summarize recent progress in studies investigating the relationship between CART, dopamine, and the pathophysiology of PD, with a focus on mitochondria-related topics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.