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Toxic interactions between dopamine, α-synuclein, monoamine oxidase, and genes in mitochondria of Parkinson’s disease

  • Neurology and Preclinical Neurological Studies - Review Article
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Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by its distinct pathological features; loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and accumulation of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites containing modified α-synuclein. Beneficial effects of L-DOPA and dopamine replacement therapy indicate dopamine deficit as one of the main pathogenic factors. Dopamine and its oxidation products are proposed to induce selective vulnerability in dopamine neurons. However, Parkinson’s disease is now considered as a generalized disease with dysfunction of several neurotransmitter systems caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. The pathogenic factors include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, α-synuclein accumulation, programmed cell death, impaired proteolytic systems, neuroinflammation, and decline of neurotrophic factors. This paper presents interactions among dopamine, α-synuclein, monoamine oxidase, its inhibitors, and related genes in mitochondria. α-Synuclein inhibits dopamine synthesis and function. Vice versa, dopamine oxidation by monoamine oxidase produces toxic aldehydes, reactive oxygen species, and quinones, which modify α-synuclein, and promote its fibril production and accumulation in mitochondria. Excessive dopamine in experimental models modifies proteins in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and inhibits the function. α-Synuclein and familiar Parkinson’s disease-related gene products modify the expression and activity of monoamine oxidase. Type A monoamine oxidase is associated with neuroprotection by an unspecific dose of inhibitors of type B monoamine oxidase, rasagiline and selegiline. Rasagiline and selegiline prevent α-synuclein fibrillization, modulate this toxic collaboration, and exert neuroprotection in experimental studies. Complex interactions between these pathogenic factors play a decisive role in neurodegeneration in PD and should be further defined to develop new therapies for Parkinson’s disease.

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Abbreviations

AEP:

Asparagine endopeptidase

ALP:

Autophagy–lysosome pathway

αSyn:

α-Synuclein

CMA:

Chaperone-mediated autophagy

CTR, NTR:

C- And N-terminal region

DAQ:

Dopamine-O-quinone

GCase:

Glucocerebrosidase

GPx4:

Glutathione peroxidase 4

HTRA2:

High-temperature requirement A2

iPSCs:

Induced pluripotent stem cells

IMM, OMM:

Inner and outer mitochondrial membrane

LAMP2A:

Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A

LB, LN:

Lewy body and Lewy neurite

MAM:

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes

MAO-A, -B:

Type A and B monoamine oxidase

MDS-UPDRS:

Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale

MMP:

Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization

mPTP:

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore

NAC:

Non-amyloid-β component

PGC-1α:

Proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ cofactor-1α

SNpc:

Substantia nigra pars compacta

SS peptides:

Szeto–Schiller tetrapeptides

UPS:

Ubiquitin–proteasome system

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The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from that disclosed.

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Correspondence to Makoto Naoi.

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Naoi, M., Maruyama, W., Shamoto-Nagai, M. et al. Toxic interactions between dopamine, α-synuclein, monoamine oxidase, and genes in mitochondria of Parkinson’s disease. J Neural Transm (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02730-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-023-02730-6

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