Pael-R transgenic mice crossed with parkin deficient mice displayed progressive and selective catecholaminergic neuronal loss

J Neurochem. 2008 Oct;107(1):171-85. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05607.x. Epub 2008 Aug 7.

Abstract

Parkin, a ubiquitin ligase, is responsible for autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (AR-JP). We identified parkin-associated endothelin receptor-like receptor (Pael-R) as a substrate of parkin, whose accumulation is thought to induce unfolded protein response (UPR) -mediated cell death, leading to dopaminergic neurodegeneration. To create an animal model of AR-JP, we generated parkin knockout/Pael-R transgenic (parkin-ko/Pael-R-tg) mice. parkin-ko/Pael-R-tg mice exhibited early and progressive loss of dopaminergic as well as noradrenergic neurons without formation of inclusion bodies, recapitulating the pathological features of AR-JP. Evidence of activation of UPR and up-regulation of dopamine and its metabolites were observed throughout the lifetime. Moreover, complex I activity of mitochondria isolated from parkin-ko/Pael-R-tg mice was significantly reduced later in life. These findings suggest that persistent induction of unfolded protein stress underlies chronic progressive catecholaminergic neuronal death, and that dysfunction of mitochondrial complex I and oxidative stress might be involved in the progression of Parkinson's disease. parkin-ko/Pael-R-tg mice represents an AR-JP mouse model displaying chronic and selective loss of catecholaminergic neurons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Catecholamines / metabolism*
  • Cell Death / genetics
  • Chronic Disease
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Electron Transport Complex I / genetics
  • Electron Transport Complex I / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Degeneration / genetics
  • Nerve Degeneration / metabolism*
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / metabolism
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology
  • Protein Folding
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / deficiency
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Catecholamines
  • GPR37 receptor, human
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • parkin protein
  • Electron Transport Complex I
  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine