Astrocyte-specific DJ-1 overexpression protects against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT: DJ-1 is a redox-sensitive protein with several putative functions important in mitochondrial physiology, protein transcription, proteasome regulation, and chaperone activity. High levels of DJ-1 immunoreactivity are reported in astrocytes surrounding pathology associated with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, possibly reflecting the glial response to oxidative damage. Previous studies showed that astrocytic over-expression of DJ-1 in vitro prevented oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in primary neurons. Based on these observations, we developed a pseudotyped lentiviral gene transfer vector with specific tropism for CNS astrocytes in vivo to overexpress human DJ-1 protein in astroglial cells. Following vector delivery to the substantia nigra and striatum of adult Lewis rats, the D

SUBMITTER: De Miranda BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5943150 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature