Neuro - general Flashcards
Symptoms of PD?
Akinetic-rigid Bradykinesia Loss of movement Increased muscle tone Resting tremor
Is PD predominantly inherited or non-inherited?
Non-inherited
Where are dopamine neurons lost on PD?
SN - 50% lost for symptoms and 80% at autopsy
Where are cells lost in PD?
Substantia nigra Locus ceruleus Dorsal motor of the vagus Raphe nuclei Brain stem structures
Describe lewy bodies
Spherical Intracellular Eosinophillic core Pale halo Filamentous and granular material Neurofilament proteins, Ubiquitin and Lipids Major alpha-syn
What are the PARK genes?
15 causing genes
PARK 1/4, 2, 5 and 8 all found to be involved in membrane trafficking and UPS
Describe alpha-syn
PARK1/4
140aa protein
found at presynaptic terminals
Thought to be involved in synaptic plasticity, membrane trafficking and vesicle sorting
Mutations can cause aggregation (A53T, A30P, E46T and WTx3 Iowan)
Gene replication can cause PD
Aggregable (also found in AD plaques)
Upon binding to membrane it forms an amp alpha helix
Central hydrophobic region self-associates and aggregates (region not shared with beta-syn)
C-terminal acidic tail inhibits aggregation hence why truncation can lead to aggregation
A53T - 50% longer half-life than the WT shows it is not degraded as efficiently
Contains a KFERQ-like motif - think CMA dominant degradation pathway with LAMP2A/Hsc70 but cannot be translocated into the lumen which enhances aggregation and blocks other protein degradation
PD neurons have decreased levels of Cathepsin D, LAMP-2A and Hsc70
Macroautophagy which can degrade aggregates is also inhibited - rapamycin which inhibits mTOR stimulates macroautophagy which promotes alpha-syn aggregation clearance
Describe LRRK2
PARK 8
Leucine-rich repeat kinase
Mutated forms found in PD - G2019S
Member of the ROCO family contains a MAPKKK (kinase effector domain) and a ROC-GTP domain (GTP binding regulation domain)
G2019S found in the MAPKKK domain
In rats vectors containing LRRK2 were injected in one side of the brain - KO of LRRK2 cause neurite outgrowth and branching whereas G2019S caused no neurite outgrowth or branching. Suggests that the mutations cause P of its targets without regulation one of its targets is Tau
Found in the striatum
See a reduction of LRRK2 in PD dopamine neurones
Describe Parkin
PARK 2
Encodes a E3 Ub-ligase and is thought to be protective against PD
Can bind Ub and alpha-syn and target it for degradation
Mutations cause loss of function and therefore PD by getting alpha-syn build up
Overexpressed Parkin and alpha-syn and looked at dopamine neurones by staining for tyrosine hydroxylase
Describe UCHL1
PARK 5
De-Ub enzyme - removes Ub from the C-terminal bond
Mutations are loss of function and cause PD/PD-like syndromes
Present in Lewy bodies
Important for keeping the Ub pool in the cell - can inhibit other protein degradation by not restoring the Ub pool
Describe PINK1
Serine/threonine protein kinase
N-terminal mitochondrial localization signal
Protects the cell against apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition
Loss of function causes PD
Describe DJ-1
Redox sensitive molecular chaperone
Loss of function leads to PD through sensitivity to oxidative stress
L166P mutation promotes cytoplasm –> mitochondria
Treatments for PD - autologous graft
Take adrenal chromaffin cells from the same patient and transplant into the striatum and they release dopamine
No immunosuppresion needed
Stopped as saw adverse psychiatric effects
Treatments for PD - fetal transplant
Take SN from aborted fetuses and transplant into the caudate nucleus
Worked well but side effects of Bradykinesias
Ethical issues - need 6-8 fetuses as 90% of cells die, needed immunosuppression
Treatments for PD - stem cells
Take stem cells either from a different organism or the same one and induce to differentiate into DA neurons
Transplants in aminal models but number of problems - hard to get the stem to stop dividing so DA tumor
Treatments for PD - Deep brain stimulation
Place electrodes into the STN Pacemaker fitted so patient can control Mimic a lesion to reverse the signals Works quickly Tends to be done in younger patients as better for op
Treatments for PD - Growth factors and gene therapy
Gene therapy:
Lentivirus and adenovirus vectors contain a gene e.g. parkin or tyrosine hydroxylate
Delivery to specific area can be problematic and crossing BBB - conbine with transplant - Varying sucess in animals
Growth factors: Infuse with a catheter as cannot cross BBB Close to the striatum GDNF - dissapointing Neurturin GDF5 - preclincal development
When was AD first discovered?
1907 by Alois Alzheimer
What is the most common form of dementia
AD of 80% of cases
Symptoms of AD?
Changes in personality, memory loss, confusion, hallucinations and many more
Who donated her brain to AD research and what did he find?
Auguste Deter
Found plaques and tangles
What is the first region affected in AD? then where?
Hippocampus then spreads to the frontal lobes/back of the brain then throughout the cortex regions
What is the average number of years after diagnosis for AD?
8 years but varies
Draw the amyloid cascade theory
See diagram
Draw A-beta production
See diagram