Dopamine Deficiency and Parkinson’s Disease: Novel Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Discoveries
摘要
Parkinson’s disease is a complex illness resulting from a combination of aging, external factors, and genetic predisposition. Mutations in autosomal dominant genes (SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35) or autosomal recessive genes (PRKN, PINK1, PARK7) can cause Parkinson’s disease. Moreover, dysregulation of miRNA expression influences neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and genes related to protein aggregation that might trigger Parkinson’s disease. Furthermore, disturbance in DNA methyltransferase activity and mTOR signaling may influence dopamine transporter endocytosis. Additionally, endogenous Zn2+ may contribute to Parkinson’s disease through its major effect on oxidative stress. Also, several studies indicate that gut microbes significantly influence the regulation of dopamine levels. In addition, there are several other risk factors, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, hepatitis C, Helicobacter pylori, bipolar disorder, bullous pemphigoid, and inflammatory bowel disease. Numerous natural products have been demonstrated to directly or indirectly alter dopamine levels or treat Parkinson’s symptoms, such as Rhodiola rosea, cordycepin, Mucuna pruriens, Ginkgo biloba, and curcumin. Likewise, gene therapy for Parkinson’s can relieve symptoms by normalizing basal ganglia activity or slow disease by preventing degeneration. Moreover, increasing regulatory T cells in the brain can help restore immune balance, lower chronic neuroinflammation, and provide neuroprotection, while antibody-based therapies can also target alpha-synuclein pathogenic protein. Pluripotent stem cells can furthermore be either used to establish the local neural circuits or secrete trophic factors and activate antioxidant pathways. Finally, neuromodulation technology can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease through altering the neural signals’ conduction. Overall, understanding pathogenic mechanisms and evolving therapies can accelerate the advancement of effective clinical solutions.