Parkinson-susceptibility gene DJ-1/PARK7 protects the murine heart from oxidative damage in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of an organism to eliminate these toxic intermediates. Although the Parkinson-susceptibility gene, Parkinson protein 7/DJ-1 (DJ-1), has been linked to the regulation of oxidative stress, the exact mechanism by which this occurs and its in vivo relevance have remained elusive. In the heart, oxidative stress is a major contributor to the development of heart failure (HF). Therefore, we hypothesized that DJ-1 inhibits the pathological consequences of ROS production in the heart, the organ with the highest oxidative burden. We report that DJ-1 is highly expressed in normal heart tissue but is markedly reduced in end-stage human HF. DJ-1-deficient mice subjected to oxidative stress

SUBMITTER: Billia F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3625258 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature