Selective inhibition of NF-κB activation prevents dopaminergic neuronal loss in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. Despite intense investigations, no effective therapy is available to stop its onset or halt its progression. The present study evaluates the ability of peptide corresponding to the NF-κB essential modifier-binding domain (NBD) of IκB kinase α(IKKα) or IKKβ to prevent nigrostriatal degeneration in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD and establish a role for NF-κB in human parkinsonism. First, we found that NF-κB was activated within the substantia nigra pars compacta of PD patients and MPTP-intoxicated mice. However, i.p. injection of wild-type NBD peptide reduced nigral activation of NF-κB, suppressed nigral microglial activation, protected both the nigrostriatal axis and neurotransmitters, and improved motor functions in MPTP-intoxicated mice. These findings were specific because mutated NBD peptide had no effect. We conclude that selective inhibition of NF-κB activation by NBD peptide may be of therapeutic benefit for PD patients. © 2007 by The National Academy of Sciences of the USA.

Keywords

MPTP, NBD peptides, Neurodegeneration

Publication Date

11-20-2007

Publication Title

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

ISSN

00278424

E-ISSN

10916490

Volume

104

Issue

47

First Page

18754

Last Page

18759

PubMed ID

18000063

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1073/pnas.0704908104

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