PD (Parkinson's disease) is a common neurodegenerative disease clinically characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity and resting tremor. Recent studies have proposed that synaptic dysfunction, implicated in numerous studies of animal models of PD, might be a key factor in PD. The molecular defects that lead to PD progression might be hidden at the presynaptic neuron: in fact accumulating evidence has shown that the majority of the genes linked to PD play a critical role at the presynaptic site. In the present paper, we focus on the presynaptic function of LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2), a protein that mutated represents the main genetic cause of familial PD described to date. Neurotransmission relies on proper presynaptic vesicle trafficking; defects in this process, variation in dopamine flow and alteration of presynaptic plasticity have been reported in several animal models of LRRK2 mutations. Furthermore, impaired dopamine turnover has been described in presymptomatic LRRK2 PD patients. Thus, given the pathological events occurring at the synapses of PD patients, the presynaptic site may represent a promising target for early diagnostic therapeutic intervention.
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October 2012
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Conference Article|
September 19 2012
Presynaptic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a focus on LRRK2
Elisa Belluzzi;
Elisa Belluzzi
*Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padua, Italy
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Elisa Greggio;
Elisa Greggio
1
*Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, Padua, Italy
1Correspondence may be addressed to either of these authors (emailelisa.greggio@unipd.it or gio_piccoli@yahoo.it).
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Giovanni Piccoli
Giovanni Piccoli
1
†IN-CNR Milano, Milan, Italy
1Correspondence may be addressed to either of these authors (emailelisa.greggio@unipd.it or gio_piccoli@yahoo.it).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
May 02 2012
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2012 Biochemical Society
2012
Biochem Soc Trans (2012) 40 (5): 1111–1116.
Article history
Received:
May 02 2012
Citation
Elisa Belluzzi, Elisa Greggio, Giovanni Piccoli; Presynaptic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a focus on LRRK2. Biochem Soc Trans 1 October 2012; 40 (5): 1111–1116. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20120124
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