Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity of α-synuclein: A mechanism for selective neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease

Jin Xu; Shyan Yuan Kao; Frank J S Lee; Weihong Song; Lee-Way Jin; Bruce A. Yankner

doi:10.1038/nm0602-600

Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity of α-synuclein: A mechanism for selective neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease

Jin Xu, Shyan Yuan Kao, Frank J S Lee, Weihong Song, Lee-Way Jin, Bruce A. Yankner

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

616 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mechanism by which dopaminergic neurons are selectively lost in Parkinson disease (PD) is unknown. Here we show that accumulation of α-synuclein in cultured human dopaminergic neurons results in apoptosis that requires endogenous dopamine production and is mediated by reactive oxygen species. In contrast, α-synuclein is not toxic in non-dopaminergic human cortical neurons, but rather exhibits neuroprotective activity. Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity is mediated by 54-83-kD soluble protein complexes that contain α-synuclein and 14-3-3 protein, which are elevated selectively in the substantia nigra in PD. Thus, accumulation of soluble α-synuclein protein complexes can render endogenous dopamine toxic, suggesting a potential mechanism for the selectivity of neuronal loss in PD.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	600-606
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature Medicine
Volume	8
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0602-600
State	Published - 2002
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all)
Medicine(all)

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title = "Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity of α-synuclein: A mechanism for selective neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease",

abstract = "The mechanism by which dopaminergic neurons are selectively lost in Parkinson disease (PD) is unknown. Here we show that accumulation of α-synuclein in cultured human dopaminergic neurons results in apoptosis that requires endogenous dopamine production and is mediated by reactive oxygen species. In contrast, α-synuclein is not toxic in non-dopaminergic human cortical neurons, but rather exhibits neuroprotective activity. Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity is mediated by 54-83-kD soluble protein complexes that contain α-synuclein and 14-3-3 protein, which are elevated selectively in the substantia nigra in PD. Thus, accumulation of soluble α-synuclein protein complexes can render endogenous dopamine toxic, suggesting a potential mechanism for the selectivity of neuronal loss in PD.",

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AU - Song, Weihong

AU - Jin, Lee-Way

AU - Yankner, Bruce A.

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AB - The mechanism by which dopaminergic neurons are selectively lost in Parkinson disease (PD) is unknown. Here we show that accumulation of α-synuclein in cultured human dopaminergic neurons results in apoptosis that requires endogenous dopamine production and is mediated by reactive oxygen species. In contrast, α-synuclein is not toxic in non-dopaminergic human cortical neurons, but rather exhibits neuroprotective activity. Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity is mediated by 54-83-kD soluble protein complexes that contain α-synuclein and 14-3-3 protein, which are elevated selectively in the substantia nigra in PD. Thus, accumulation of soluble α-synuclein protein complexes can render endogenous dopamine toxic, suggesting a potential mechanism for the selectivity of neuronal loss in PD.

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Dopamine-dependent neurotoxicity of α-synuclein: A mechanism for selective neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease

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