Cellular and Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration in Parkinson Disease

1Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer disease. In 1817, an English physician, Dr. James Parkinson, firstly described the pathological characteristic of paralysis agitans (shaking palsy), and the pattern was eventually called “PD” by Charcot and Vulpian in 1862. In 1912, Friederich Lewy first described the intraneuronal inclusions, namely “Lewy bodies” which define shaking palsy at a neuropathological level, and provided a detailed histopathological analysis of the nervous system to further understanding of shaking palsy. Now PD is known as a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe motor symptoms, including static tremor, postural imbalance, bradykinesia and muscle rigidity. α-synuclein is the main component of Lewy bodies and has a central role in PD. Epidemiological investigations have disclosed that few of PD patients are hereditable forms, while the overwhelming majority are sporadic forms. The prevalence of PD varies with age, from 1–2% at ages of 55–65 years to 3.5% at 85–89 years. Unfortunately, the ultimate cause of PD is not well understood yet.

2Although the pathological mechanisms are largely unknown, both genetic and environmental factors are considered to involve in potential pathogenesis of PD. Polymeropoulos et al identified the first PD-linked mutation, α-synuclein (A53T), in Italian and Greek origin families in. found that four persons with notable parkinsonism after intravenous injection of an illicit drug, containing 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in 1983. Afterward, many PD-linked gene mutations and several environmental factors were found. The potential mechanisms for loss of dopaminergic neurons were also well studied. In this review, we summarize the mutations of main seven genes (α-synuclein, LRRK2, PINK1, Parkin, DJ-1, VPS35 and GBA1) associated to PD and potential mechanisms for loss of dopaminergic neurons (dopamine metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, impaired autophagy, and deregulation of immunity), and also expect the development direction for treatment of PD.

3There is an increasing list of mutations related to the onset of PD. They account for more than 50% of early-onset cases and about 2–3% of late-onset forms of PD. Findings of gene mutations linked to the onset of familial PD cases have confirmed their critical roles in the progress of PD and made it easy to understand the molecular pathogenesis for hereditary PD.

4A missense mutation in α-synuclein (A53T), encoded by the SNCA/PARK1 gene, was firstly identified to cause a familial form of PD. Soon afterward, series of missense point mutations in the N-terminal of α-synuclein, including A30P, E46K, H50Q, G51D and A53E, were also identified. SNCA-linked PD is often of early onset and usually progresses rapidly. α-synuclein is the main component in Lewy bodies and most is phosphorylated at Ser129 of α-synuclein, which facilitated α-synuclein fibril uptake by neurons and exacerbated the pathology progression of PD. Rodriguez et al have revealed the structure of toxic core of α-synuclein as pairs of face-to-face b-sheets by using micro-electron diffraction. The α-synuclein variants forming oligomers were more toxic than that forming fibrils, so the former triggered more severe loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) in animals. The dosage of α-synuclein gene(SNCA) is responsible for parkinsonism. Point mutation and triplication carriers show almost complete penetrance, whereas penetrance in duplication carriers ranges between 30% and 50%. What’s more, SNCA triplication carriers also tend to have even earlier onset and more severe phenotype than duplication carriers. Triplication of SNCA gene triggered unfolded protein response in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) generated from a patient with PD.

5Mutations of α-synuclein are toxic to dopaminergic neurons because they alter a series of intracellular signal programs. α-synuclein A53T mutation could suppress autophagy in the brain of transgenic mice at early stage and lead to synucleinopathy. A53T also induces mitochondrial dysfunction- and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated cell death pathways in PC12 cells. Proteasomal protein cleavage is significantly impaired by overexpression of mutant α-synuclein in dopaminergic cells, such as SH-SY5Y and PC12. have reported that erythrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles containing α-synuclein could transmit across the blood brain barrier; this may be a new mechanism by which the brain and periphery communicate throughout the initiation and development of PD. α-synuclein specifically binds to TrkB receptors and inhibits BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway, resulting in the death of dopaminergic neurons. Another mutation A30P could promote the neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons via activating microglia and upregulating the expression of PHOX and Mac-1. The mutations of α-synuclein linked to PD and the pathogenesis are summarized in Table 1.

6Both mRNA and protein levels of α-synuclein showed a double increase in PD, therefore, reducing α-synuclein expression may provide a potential therapeutic approach. have clarified that knockdown of α-synuclein by using a shRNA attenuates the progressive motor deficits and the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in SNc in rotenone-induced rats model of PD. Intranasal delivery of inhibitory oligonucleotides, siRNA or antisense oligonucleotide combined with the triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor indatraline selectively decreases α-synuclein expression in the brainstem of mice and reduces levels of endogenous α-synuclein mRNA and protein in SNc. Systemic exosomal siRNA delivery also significantly reduced the aggregation of α-synuclein in SNc dopaminergic neurones of S129D α-synuclein transgenic mice.

7Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2(LRRK2) is a multi-domain protein, containing both Rab GTPase and kinase enzymatic activities. LRRK2 mutations are linked with “classical” late-onset PD and accounts for 4% of hereditary PD. The penetrance is incomplete and age-dependent. Mutations of LRRK2/PARK8 gene represent the highest risk of familial PD, causing autosomal dominant PD. Morbidity of PD is significantly elevating among LRRK2 G2019S mutation carriers as aging. LRRK2 G2019S mutation elevates mobility of α-synuclein and enhances α-synuclein accumulation in cultured primary neurons and in dopaminergic neurons in SNc of PD brain. The mutation also promotes the transmission of Tau in the mouse brain neurons, implicating for understanding the development of tau protein neuropathology in LRRK2-linked PD. Pathogenic mutations in LRRK2 increase its kinase activities in cells and tissues, so small molecule inhibitors of LRRK2 kinase can be used to block its activity to provide neuroprotection in some PD models. Intracerebral injection of LRRK2 antisense oligonucleotides also decreases endogenous protein levels of normal LRRK2 and inhibits the formation of fibril-induced α-synuclein inclusions.

8LRRK2 not only inhibits neuronal survival but also impairs dopamine signal. LRRK2 played important roles in the death of neurons via directly phosphorylating apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 at Thr832 site and activating the kinase activity. In model organisms, it has numerous roles within the secretory pathway and may contribute to dopaminergic signaling. LRRK2 could promote neuronal death via inhibiting myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2D activity, which is required for neuronal survival. LRRK2 G2019S mutation impairs dopamine receptor D1 internalization, leading to an alteration in signal transduction. In addition, LRRK2 G2019S mutation enhances the kinase activity and results in the impairment of synaptic vesicle trafficking selectively in ventral midbrain neurons, including dopaminergic neurons.

9LRRK2 G2019S mutation shows a close relationship with mitochondrial dysfunction. have reported that this mutation induces mitochondrial DNA damage in cultured primary neurons from rat midbrain, which is dependent on LRRK2 kinase activity, and pharmacological inhibition restores the integrity of mitochondrial DNA. PD-associated LRRK2 mutations upregulate the expression of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, a mitochondrial calcium transporter and then promote the uptake of dendritic and mitochondrial calcium in cortical neurons and familial PD patient fibroblasts. LRRK2 G2019S binds to and enhances its interaction with mitochondrial dynamin-like protein 1(DLP1, a fission protein), which increases mitochondrial DLP1 levels and induces neuronal toxicity, mitochondrial fragmentation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. LRRK2 G2019S mutation also impairs mitochondrial function by decreasing the activity of respiratory chain complex IV, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of LRRK2 restores the mitochondrial morphology. Ursocholanic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid improves the LRRK2 G2019-decreased mitochondrial function in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that ursocholanic acid and ursodeoxycholic acid may be promising drugs for future neuroprotective trials. The mutations of LRRK2 linked to PD and the pathogenesis are summarized in Table 2.

10PTEN-induced putative kinase (PINK) 1, a mitochondrial protein kinase, is a critical protein linked with the pathogenesis of PD. PINK1 deficiency causes the autosomal recessive PARK6 variant of PD. PINK1 mutations have been reported to account for approximately 1–3% of early onset PD in populations of European ancestry, 8.9% of autosomal recessive PD in a sample of Japanese families, and 2.5% of early onset PD in a sample of ethnic Chinese, Malays, and Indians. PINK1 loss is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial Ca2+ mishandling via directly interacting with and phosphorylating LETM1 at Thr192 site to increase Ca2+ release and facilitate its transport. In a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of PD, non-apoptotic neurodegeneration of dopaminergic cells is induced by the dysregulation of mitochondrial unfolded protein response, which is dependent on the PINK1 homolog. Heterozygous PINK1 G411S mutation shows a significant decrease in kinase activity of PINK1 and could increase the risk of PD via a dominant-negative mechanism. Mutation of PINK1 show an accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria with age, leading to activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, which promotes longevity and dopamine neuron survival in PD models. I368N and Q456X mutations of PINK1 reduce either its stability/protein levels or kinase activity, increasing the risk of PD. Other mutations, including A168P, H271Q, L347P and G309D, weaken the recruitment of Parkin to depolarized mitochondria.

11Parkin, encoded by PARK2, is originally considered to serve as a ubiquitin E3 ligase, which can be activated by autophosphorylated PINK1 and is required for the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of target substrates. Mutations in the Parkin gene are a common cause of early onset PD in many countries and account for 10–25% of cases. PINK1 accumulates on the membrane of dysfunctional mitochondria, activates the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of Parkin and recruits them to damaged mitochondria from cytoplasm to promote their mitophagic degradation. Reactive oxygen species also induces PINK1/Parkin pathway-dependent mitophagy by promoting Parkin recruitment to mitochondria. Mutations of Parkin, including R42P, R46P, K211N, C212Y, C253Y, C289G, and C441R, cause a deficit in its recruitment to depolarized mitochondria and further inhibit mitophagy. Silence of PINK1/Parkin by siRNA promotes mitochondrial fragmentation in cultured primary neurons of mouse. The mutations of PINK1 and Parkin linked to PD and the pathogenesis is summarized in Table 3.

12Mutations of DJ-1, encoded by the PARK7 gene, have been linked with early onset of recessive PD, which were first identified in 2 European families with an age of onset of 20–40 years. Several PD-associated DJ-1 mutations have been identified, including L166P, M26I, L10P and P158Δ. Recently, genetic analysis from a single case research reveals a novel mutation of L172Q in the PARK7 gene, which is the first time to report the neuropathology from a DJ-1-linked PD brain. DJ-1 could interact with and steady PINK1 in cells overexpressing PINK1. DJ-1 has been reported to also interact with α-synuclein, modulate its aggregation by weak hydrophobic interaction and restore α-synuclein-induced cellular toxicity.

13The neuroprotective roles mediated by DJ-1 are summarized as anti-oxidant properties, anti-apoptotic effects, effects on mitochondrial respiratory function, morphology, turnover and biogenesis. Currently, the most acknowledged role of DJ-1 in the pathophysiology of PD is the neuroprotective function against oxidative stress. DJ-1 mutations mainly affect a protein involved in intracellular oxidation-reduction. Mutant DJ-1(L166P and M26I) increases the sensitivity of SHSY5Y cells toward oxidative stress, because it abolishes the neuroprotection against H2O2 and the induction of thioredoxin-1 through inhibiting nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 signal pathway. D149A mutation also abolishes its protection. The three mutations, L172Q, L10P and P158Δ, are involved in reduction of protein stability. DJ-1 deficiency in neurons shows a decrease of glutamine influx and serine biosynthesis, which attenuates cellular antioxidant response and leads to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. DJ-1-Deficiecy in embryonic stem cells-derived dopaminergic neurons also increases the sensitivity to toxins-induced oxidative stress. Drosophila carrying a mutant DJ-1β gene, the homologue of human DJ-1, show a reduced climbing ability reflecting locomotor defects. DJ-1 overexpression ameliorates mitochondrial function, including the mitochondrial quantity and activity of respiratory chain complex I, by phosphorylating Akt at Thr308 site in both SH-SY5Y and PC-12 cells. Recombinant DJ-1 can also reverse dopamine depletion in α-synuclein or 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-triggered dopaminergic degeneration in vivo. Some natural compounds protect against neurotoxin-induced Parkinsonism by upregulating DJ-1 expression. A marine compound exerts neuroprotective effects through upregulating DJ-1 expression and activating DJ-1-targeted pathway in 6-OHDA-induced zebrafish and rat models of PD. A standardized flavonoid extract from Safflower restores the expression of DJ-1, as well as the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine transporter in rotenone-induced Parkinson rats. The mutations of DJ-1 linked to PD and the pathogenesis is summarized in Table 4.

14Mutations of the Vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35) gene were first discovered in an Austrian family with late-onset PD. It accounts for 1% of familial PD. VPS35, a major component of the retromer cargo-recognition complex, regulates the process of transmembrane protein sorting between endosomes and the Golgi. It has been reported that VPS35 D620N mutation is pathogenic in patients with PD in Asian, European and American families. VPS35 D620N mutation led to a decrease of enzymatic activity in complex I and II in PD patient fibroblasts and caused mitochondrial dysfunction by recycling DLP1 complexes. What’s more, VPS35 deficiency also led to mitochondrial dysfunction and finally resulted in the loss of dopaminergic neurons. VPS35 mutant D620N disrupted the interaction of VPS35 with aminoacyl tRNA synthetase complex-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2), a Parkin substrate, and lysosome-associated membrane protein-2a (LAMP2A). Overexpression of VPS35 inhibited AIMP2-enhanced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells; In contrast, downregulation of VPS35 resulted in AIMP2 dependent-cell death. VPS35-deficient DA neurons exhibit impaired endosome-to-Golgi retrieval of Lamp2a, which may contribute to the reduced α-synuclein degradation through chaperone-mediated autophagy. Co-expression of high copy numbers of VPS35 D686N (the yeast equivalent of D620N) and low copy numbers of α-synuclein caused toxicity. Another PD-linked VPS35 mutation R524W impaired the endosomal association of retromer and also induced the aggregation of α-synuclein. In a Drosophila model, VPS35 P316S mutation also produced some of PD phenotypes, including reduction of climbing ability and loss of dopaminergic neurons, enhanced the susceptibility of Drosophila to rotenone. The mutations of VPS35 linked to PD and the pathogenesis is summarized in Table 5.

15Glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) gene mutations, encoding gluco-cerebrosidase 1 (GCase 1) which catabolizes glycolipid glucocerebroside to ceramide and glucose in lysosome and responsible for Gaucher disease, are the most common genetic risk factor for PD. It is recently reported that both heterozygous and homozygous mutations of the GBA1 gene have been linked to PD, with more than 10% of individuals carrying GBA1 mutations developing PD by the age of 80. A significant and progressive reduction in GCase 1 activity and protein levels is also observed in the brains and cerebrospinal fluid of PD patients. Activation of GCase 1 by using a small-molecule modulator restored the function of lysosome and then cleared the accumulation of pathological α-synuclein in midbrain neurons of PD patients, indicating the potential importance of GCase 1 in the development of idiopathic PD. It is estimated that about 10–25% of PD cases carry a GBA1 mutation, in which N370S and L444P are the most common mutations. GBA1 knockout inhibited macroautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy in MEFs and downregulation of GCase 1 increased α-synuclein protein levels in SH-SY5Y cells. GBA1 deficiency also resulted in the accumulation of glycosphingolipids (GSL), then decreased α-synuclein tetramers resisting aggregation and related multimers and increased α-synuclein monomers in CRISPR-GBA1 knockout SH-SY5Y cells. What’s more, α-synuclein tetramers and related multimers were also reduced in PD induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human dopaminergic neurons carrying N370S GBA1 mutation. In contrast, inhibition of GSL accumulation and overexpression of GBA1 to enhance GCase 1 activity reverse the destabilization of α-synuclein tetramers and protect against α-synuclein preformed fibril-induced toxicity in human dopaminergic neurons. N370S mutation produced GCase 1 retention within the endoplasmic reticulum, interrupting its traffic to the lysosome, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress activation and triggering unfolded protein response and Golgi apparatus fragmentation. Decreased α-synuclein tetramers and related multimers were also observed in murine neurons carrying the heterozygous L444P GBA1 mutation and L444P GBA1 mutation aggravated α-synuclein-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in SNc of 24-month-old mice. The mutations of GBA1 linked to PD and the pathogenesis is summarized in Table 6.

16The most obvious progress has been made in understanding the proximate causes, especially the deaths of dopaminergic neurons that explain the classic motor symptoms of the disease. The deaths mainly occur in the SNc, in which the neurotransmitter dopamine is normally synthesized and pumped into movement-regulating brain regions. Though up to 70% of these dopaminergic neurons in SNc will be killed during the development of PD, symptoms are seldom noticed because the striatum, immediately downstream of the SNc, can compensate to some extent. However, massive neurons in the striatum also start to die eventually. Currently, it is widely accepted that dopamine metabolism, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, impairment of protein degradation systems, and neuroinflammation are involved in the death of dopaminergic neurons in SNc (Table 7).

17Parkinson disease is a movement disorder and the first neurodegenerative disease, which is confirmed severe depletion of dopamine (regulates Parkinson’s tremor) in the striatum. Oxidation of dopamine could induce oxidative stress and is harmful to dopaminergic neurons. Mitochondrial oxidative stress results in the accumulation of oxidized dopamine and ultimately leads to reduced activity of glucocerebrosidase, lysosomal dysfunction, and α-synuclein accumulation in human and PD neurons. Increased levels of dopamine in cytoplasm and its metabolites are neurotoxic and lead to selective death of neurons in SNc, administration that decreases cytoplasmic dopamine levels provide neuroprotection in cultured midbrain neurons. Aminochrome, which is formed within the cytoplasm during the auto-oxidation of dopamine to neuromelanin, could induce neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons when DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase mutate. Auto-oxidation of dopamine aggravates overexpression of human α-synuclein A53T mutation-induced non-apoptotic cell death in PC12 cells. Dopamine not only spontaneously oxidize to form melanin and neuromelanin, but also is catalyzed to the immediate products being hydrogen peroxide and aldehydes by monoamine oxidase. Monoamine oxidase in the outer membrane of mitochondria catalyzes conversion of cytosolic dopamine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, which is an endogenous neurotoxin implicated in PD, cause extensive aggregation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and irreversibly inhibit the enzyme activity, resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species to damage neurons. Dopamine also induces the production of soluble A53T α-synuclein oligomers and promotes the degeneration of neurons in SNc. Vesicular uptake inhibition of dopamine with Reserpine rapidly increases the cytosolic concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, contributing to the dimerization of α-synuclein and apoptosis. Dopamine induces mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening via production of reactive oxygen species in mouse neurons with PINK1 defect. Reuptake of extracellular dopamine to cytoplasm leads to accumulation of dopamine, which triggers neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons. Disrupting the interaction between dopamine D2 receptor and dopamine transporter provides a protective role against dopamine neurotoxicity.

18Mitochondrial disorders have been implicated in almost all neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. PD-linked mutations could induce mitochondrial dysfunction. Soluble prefibrillar α-synuclein oligomers showed several phenotypes of mitochondrial dysfunction observed previously in cell and animal models of PD: dysfunction of complex I, change in membrane potential, disruption of Ca2+ homeostasis, and enhanced release of cytochrome c. PD-associated mutation of VPS35 gene, encoding a key component of the retromer complex, leaded to mitochondrial fragmentation and neuronal death in vitro and in vivo by enhanced interactions with DLP1. Inhibiting the enzymatic activity of the GCase 1, or silencing the GBA1 gene in SH-SY5Y, also caused mitochondrial dysfunction, showing reduced activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain and mitochondrial depolarization and fragmentation associated with increased levels of ROS. In the SNc of idiopathic PD patients, the expression of mitochondrial DNA transcription factors (TFAM and TFB2M) is decreased. Consistent with this, real-time PCR analysis exhibits a reduced copy number of mitochondrial DNA and fewer molecules associated with transcription/replication in PD patients. 4-hydroxynonenal, a lipid peroxidation product, promotes the intracellular accumulation, extrusion of extracellular vesicles containing toxic α-synuclein, and then internalization into neighboring neurons, finally results in the neurodegenerative development of PD.

19Numerous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the expression and activity of respiratory chain complex I are markedly reduced in PD. The initial evidence is that exposure to environmental 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) caused degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and parkinsonism. MPTP, a PD neurotoxin, is metabolized to its active metabolite MPP+ by monoamine oxidase and then is transferred into dopaminergic neurons by dopamine transporter. MPP+ is considered as an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I, inhibits ATP production, then results in the generation of superoxide and peroxynitrite, and finally ablates dopaminergic neurons. Partial deficiency of mitochondrial complex I in dopaminergic neurons increases the vulnerability of mice toward MPTP. Other neurotoxins can also induce degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and parkinsonism. The herbicide paraquat, reduced by NADPH oxidase on microglia, is also transported into dopaminergic neurons by dopamine transporter, where it induces mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity. Injection of PD neurotoxin 6-OHDA into the right SNc also reduces activity of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation enzymes, particularly selective decrease of complex I activity. Chronic treatment of rodents with pesticide rotenone, a well-established complex I inhibitor, selectively induces toxicity to dopaminergic neurons.

20There is a potential interaction between environmental neurotoxin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and genetic risk factors in PD pathogenesis. Injection of sub-toxic MPTP enhances the neurotoxicity of mutant α-synuclein and induces vulnerability of dopamine neurons, which may be due to the downregulation of DJ-1. The higher level of neurotoxicity in SNc than VTA neurons is due to SNc neuron-specific MPP+-induced increase in cytosolic dopamine and Ca2+, followed by an elevation of mitochondrial Ca2+ and mitochondrial oxidation, which is dependent on the expression of α-synuclein. A long non-coding RNA promotes MPTP-induced parkinsonism via upregulating the expression of LRRK2. Mice expressing LRRK2 G2019S mutation exhibit elevated susceptibility to MPTP-induced neurotoxicity. Downregulation of PINK1 enhances the sensitivity of dopaminergic neurons to MPTP-induced neurotoxicity, which can be inhibited by overexpression of Parkin or DJ-1.

21Parkinson disease is a disease classified as protein-misfolding disorders. Endoplasmic reticulum stress is observed in the SNc of PD patient brain and results in the death of dopaminergic neurons. Increasing experimental evidence have also indicated that the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins results in endoplasmic reticulum stress, which contributes to the neuronal death or apoptosis. In the central nervous system, the unfolded protein response(UPR) is initiated by the activation of three transmembrane proteins: (1) PRKR-like ER kinase (PERK), (2) inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) and (3) activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Under stressed conditions, the three transmembrane proteins dissociate from glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78) and activate series of intracellular signals to alleviate the burden of endoplasmic reticulum, such as inhibiting transcription and translation to reduce the amount of proteins entering the endoplasmic reticulum, increasing the levels of molecular chaperones to enhance the folding capacity of endoplasmic reticulum.

22Mild endoplasmic reticulum stress is considered to have a neuroprotective role. However, severe endoplasmic reticulum stress usually leads to apoptosis or death of neurons. IRE1α/XBP1 is the most conserved UPR signaling pathway and a key regulator of UPR. IRE1α/XBP1 signal pathway of UPR is activated in SNCA triplication iPSC neurons, resulting in culminating neurodegeneration. Conditional knockout of XBP1 in the nervous system inhibits the death of dopaminergic neurons induced by stereotaxic injections of 6-OHDA. Our previous study also demonstrates that MPP+/MPTP activates IRE1α pathway, leading to the loss of dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo; Thioredoxin-1 exerts a neuroprotective effect via inhibiting the activation of IRE1α. Overexpression of human α-synuclein activates endoplasmic reticulum stress via activation of PERK and ATF6 signaling pathways as well as the upregulation of proaoptotic CHOP in dopaminergic neurons in SNc, which is inhibited by overexpression of glucose regulated protein 78. Rifampicin protects PC12 cells against the cytotoxicity of PD neurotoxin rotenone by upregulating GRP78 expression via PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway. Endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling is enhanced in PINK1 and Parkin mutants model of PD, and genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PERK is protective. The N370S mutation of GBA1 gene produces a significant reduction in GCase 1 protein and enzyme activity, and retention within the endoplasmic reticulum, which interrupted its traffic to the lysosome and further led to endoplasmic reticulum stress activation and triggered UPR and Golgi apparatus fragmentation. Sustained activation of ATF4 does not repress human alpha-synuclein overexpression-induced neurodegeneration and induces severe apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in a rat model of PD. Recently, have presented a new model of PD, intranigral injection of Tunicamycin, in which the endoplasmic reticulum stressor recapitulates some of the phenotypic characteristics observed in rodent models of PD (such as locomotor impairment, α-synuclein oligomerization, and loss of dopaminergic neurons), reinforcing that endoplasmic reticulum stress could be an important contributor to the development of PD.

23Autophagy plays a critical role in the clearance of accumulated misfolded proteins and degradation of damaged organelles. Resembling endoplasmic reticulum stress, the initial autophagy is also widely considered to be cyto-protective. Overexpression of autophagy-related gene 5 inhibits the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in MPTP-induced zebrafish model of PD. It can be achieved to inhibit the accumulation of α-synuclein by activating mTOR-dependent macroautophagy. DJ-1 reduced the accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein via chaperone-mediated autophagy in both SH-SY5Y cells and PD animal models. Interaction between PINK-1 and α-synuclein in the cytoplasm, which is dependent on the kinase activity of PINK1 and is abolished by point mutation of G309D in its kinase domain, enhanced the degradation of toxic α-synuclein via activation of autophagy. Endoplasmic reticulum stressors, including thapsigargin, tunicamycin, 2-mercaptoethanol and Brefeldin A, activate PERK and then recruit MKK4 to lysosomes, accompanied by the activation of p38 MAPK which directly phosphorylates the receptor LAMP2A at sites T211 and T213, and further triggers chaperone-mediated autophagy to provide a pro-survival mechanism.

24However, autophagy is usually defective or inhibited in the pathology of PD. Impairment of autophagy has been implicated as a causative mechanism in the development of PD. The autophagy levels in dopaminergic brain areas of α-synuclein mutant A53T transgenic mice are reduced when compared to wide-type mice. Inhibition of autophagy boosts α-synuclein release and transfer from cell to cell via extracellular vesicles, and consequent progression of synucleinopathies. have demonstrated that pathogenic α-synuclein mutations, such as A53T and A30P, could bind to the receptors on the lysosomal membrane and inhibit chaperone-mediated autophagy, resulting in accumulation of abnormal α-synuclein in the Lewy bodies and subsequent parkinsonism. Inhibition of chaperone-mediated autophagy results in progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in SNc, severe decrease of dopamine levels in striatum, and motor deficits. The mitochondria of neurons, suffering from oxidative stress and dysfunction, can’t be removed by impaired mitophagy in PD, leading to the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. The formation of S-Nitrosylated PINK1 reduces the translocation of Parkin to mitochondrial membranes and inhibits mitophagy in human iPSC-derived cells as well as in α-synuclein transgenic PD mice, which contributes to neuronal cell death. GBA1 mutation produces an accumulation of cholesterol, which alters autophagy-lysosome function and impairs autophagy, rendering the neurons more vulnerable and sensitive to apoptosis. Elevated RTP801, product of DNA damage inducible transcript 4, represses autophagy, then increases the accumulation of oligomeric α-synuclein and further aggravates ER stress-induced neuronal apoptosis.

25Increasing evidence indicates that the immune system plays a role in the development of PD. Several previous studies have demonstrated that pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ, are upregulated in both cerebrospinal fluid and post-mortem brain of PD patients. Massive studies have demonstrated that microglia are activated in neurotoxins-induced PD models, including MPTP, 6-OHDA and rotenone.

26There is an intimate relation between α-synuclein and immune system. In a rat α-synuclein overexpressing model of PD, microglia are also activated in the striatum, accompanying the upregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ. Lack of IFN-β function shows an increase of α-synuclein-containing Lewy bodies, a reduction of dopaminergic neurons and impairment of dopamine signaling in SNc. In contrast, overexpression of IFN-β inhibits the loss of dopaminergic neuron in a model of familial PD. A recent study has showed that T cells from PD patients recognize α-synuclein peptides as antigenic epitopes which may explain the association of PD with specific major histocompatibility complex alleles. Major histocompatibility complex I is expressed in human SNc neurons and is inducible in human stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons. Dopaminergic neurons internalize foreign ovalbumin and display antigen derived from this protein by major histocompatibility complex I to activate T cells, resulting in autoimmune responses and dopaminergic neurons death. α-synuclein induces the entry of pro-inflammatory peripheral CCR2+ monocytes into SNc, promotes the expression of major histocompatibility complex II and the subsequent degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Genetic allelic variants of Mhc2ta, the major regulator of major histocompatibility complex II expression, regulates α-synuclein-induced microglial activation and the neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons.

27Other PD-linked gene mutations also exhibit an association with immune system. Immune system and endocytosis are involved in the pathology of sporadic PD forms and LRRK2 G2019S carrying patients. LRRK2 G2019S could alter the differentiation of bone marrow myelopoiesis and immune homeostasis. PINK1 deficiency serves as an early modulator of innate immunity in neurons, because PINK1/Parkin could suppress inflammatory conditions triggered immune-response-eliciting pathway by inhibiting mitochondrial antigen presentation. At last, we may draw a conclusion that PD is an autoimmune disorder and deregulation of immunity is responsible for parkinsonism.

28In summary, pathology of PD is compositive and due to the combined action of heredity and environmental factors. Mutations of single-gene or multi-genes could aggravate the effects of environmental neurotoxins. The pathogenesis of mutations linked to PD are associated with dysfunctions of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, impairment of autophagy, and deregulation of immunity. Conversely, environmental neurotoxins could also deregulate the expression of PD-linked genes.

29Although PD is widely researched and the therapy is positively explored, it is still incurable and persecutes tens of million sufferers worldwide. Many scientists are unremittingly searching for potential treating approaches. have demonstrated that lymphocyte-activation gene 3 interact with misfolded preformed fibrils of α-synuclein, initiates its neuron-to-neuron transmission and then induces loss of dopaminergic neurons. Using an unbiased screen targeting endogenous gene expression, have discovered that the β2-adrenoreceptor (β2AR) is a regulator of the α-synuclein gene. Salbutamol, a β2AR agonist, reduced the risk of developing PD. On the other hand, a β2AR antagonist correlated with increased risk. What’s more, activation of β2AR protected PD patient-derived cells and model mice. Gut bacteria are required for motor deficits, microglia activation, and α-synuclein pathology, suggesting that alterations in the human microbiome may increase the risk for PD. Targeting these aspects may provide effective and safe treatments to halt or slow the progression of PD.

30have developed a DART (drugs acutely restricted by tethering), which antagonizes the a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR, a postsynaptic glutamate receptor), and applied the technique to a mouse model of PD. Human induced pluripotent stem cells-derived dopaminergic progenitor cells could function as midbrain dopaminergic neurons after transplantation in a monkey model of PD. Using three transcription factors (NEUROD1, LMX1A, and ASCL1), miR218 and collectively designated NeAL218, dopamine neurons are generated by directly reprogramming human astrocytes in vitro and mouse astrocytes in vivo. Ambroxol, which was initially used to treat airway mucus hypersecretion and hyaline membrane disease in infants and was then recognized as a pH-dependent, mixed-type inhibitor of GCase1, acts as a chaperone for GCase1 and enhances lysosomal function and autophagy. Clinical trials of ambroxol are currently ongoing in PD and PD dementia. These studies might also provide new and alternative strategies to treat PD.

31X-SZ and J-JJ designed the article contents and wrote the original paper. X-SZ, W-SG, J-JJ, LC, and P-PZ searched the related literature and discussed the writing. X-SZ, W-SG, and J-JJ revised the paper.

32The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.