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| Open AccessNeural signatures of indirect pathway activity during subthalamic stimulation in Parkinson’s disease
Subthalamic deep brain stimulation produces evoked resonant neural activity (ERNA) which has been linked to therapeutic benefit. Using a multimodal approach, the authors propose that ERNA reflects activation of the basal ganglia indirect pathway network.
- Leon A. Steiner
- , David Crompton
- & Luka Milosevic
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Article
| Open AccessStructure of alpha-synuclein fibrils derived from human Lewy body dementia tissue
The accumulation of alpha-synuclein fibrils within neurons is the defining feature of Lewy body dementia (LBD). Here the authors report a method to produce large quantities of alpha-synuclein fibrils that reproduce the complex structure of the fibrils that accumulate in LBD brain tissue.
- Dhruva D. Dhavale
- , Alexander M. Barclay
- & Paul T. Kotzbauer
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Article
| Open AccessPhosphorylation and O-GlcNAcylation at the same α-synuclein site generate distinct fibril structures
Here, the authors use cryo-EM to show that phosphorylating or O-GlcNAcylating α-synuclein on serine 87 leads to the formation of two distinct fibril structures. Both structures display reduced neurotoxicity and propagation activity.
- Jinjian Hu
- , Wencheng Xia
- & Yan-Mei Li
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Article
| Open AccessSpatial transcriptomics reveals molecular dysfunction associated with cortical Lewy pathology
The impact of α-synuclein aggregates on neurons has been unclear. Here, the authors identify a Lewy Associated Molecular Dysfunction from Aggregates (LAMDA) signature in inclusion bearing neurons in human brain and a mouse model of α-synucleinopathy.
- Thomas M. Goralski
- , Lindsay Meyerdirk
- & Michael X. Henderson
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Article
| Open AccessHTRA1 disaggregates α-synuclein amyloid fibrils and converts them into non-toxic and seeding incompetent species
The PDZ serine protease HTRA1 degrades fibrillar tau, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Here the authors report that HTRA1 inhibits aggregation of α-syn as well as FUS and TDP-43, which are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia.
- Sheng Chen
- , Anuradhika Puri
- & Meredith E. Jackrel
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Article
| Open AccessNumerosity estimation of virtual humans as a digital-robotic marker for hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease
Virtual reality, robotics and digital online technologies reveal heightened visual overestimation when estimating the number of humans, indexing presence hallucinations in healthy participants and patients with Parkinson’s disease.
- Louis Albert
- , Jevita Potheegadoo
- & Olaf Blanke
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Review Article
| Open AccessNeuropathogenesis-on-chips for neurodegenerative diseases
This review focuses on recent advances in on-chip platforms for patient-like in vitro modeling of the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases as well as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The authors advocate for broader usage of these human-relevant models in the academic and pharmaceutical fields.
- Sarnai Amartumur
- , Huong Nguyen
- & Chaejeong Heo
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Article
| Open AccessAn artificial protein modulator reprogramming neuronal protein functions
Direct modulation of protein by artificial catalysts as enzyme mimetics remains hindered by the lack of highly efficient catalytic centers. Here, the authors present the development of artificial protein modulators (APROMs) with protein phosphatase-like characteristics, catalytically reprogram the biological function of α-synuclein.
- Peihua Lin
- , Bo Zhang
- & Daishun Ling
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Article
| Open AccessMulti-night cortico-basal recordings reveal mechanisms of NREM slow-wave suppression and spontaneous awakenings in Parkinson’s disease
Using at-home intracranial DBS recordings in PD participants, the authors found subcortical beta has an inverse effect on cortical slow-wave in NREM sleep, rises before awakenings and found >88% accuracy in NREM vs Wake classification in brief 5 s epochs.
- Md Fahim Anjum
- , Clay Smyth
- & Simon Little
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Article
| Open AccessStalled translation by mitochondrial stress upregulates a CNOT4-ZNF598 ribosomal quality control pathway important for tissue homeostasis
Ribosome associated quality control (RQC) is a new area of biological investigation with emerging connection to a broad range of diseases. Here authors show that mitochondrial stress can upregulate a new RQC pathway important for tissue homeostasis.
- Ji Geng
- , Shuangxi Li
- & Bingwei Lu
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Article
| Open AccessA mutational atlas for Parkin proteostasis
Gene variants can affect folding and stability of the encoded protein. Here, the authors apply deep mutational scanning to provide genotype-phenotype information for 99% of the possible PRKN variants and reveal mechanistic details on how some variants cause loss-of-function and Parkinsons disease.
- Lene Clausen
- , Vasileios Voutsinos
- & Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen
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Article
| Open AccessDisruption of lysosomal proteolysis in astrocytes facilitates midbrain organoid proteostasis failure in an early-onset Parkinson’s disease model
The protein DJ1, encoded by the PARK7 gene, is causally linked to development of early-onset PD. Here the authors observed that the loss of DJ1 function in midbrain organoids led to astrocyte dysfunction, impairing protein clearance, accumulation of α-synuclein.
- Gustavo Morrone Parfitt
- , Elena Coccia
- & Tim Ahfeldt
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Article
| Open AccessNon-Faradaic optoelectrodes for safe electrical neuromodulation
Nanoscale optoelectrodes hold the potential to optically stimulate individual neuron. Here, the authors form nanoscale capacitive optoelectrodes by incorporating zinc porphyrin into nanorods, coated by TiO2, a design that allows for far-field optical modulation of neurons with efficiency and negligible side effects.
- Jian Chen
- , Yanyan Liu
- & Wenbo Bu
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Article
| Open AccessChiral metal-organic frameworks incorporating nanozymes as neuroinflammation inhibitors for managing Parkinson’s disease
The treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is hampered by the lack of effective blood–brain barrier (BBB) traversing drugs. Here, the authors report nanozyme-integrated metal-organic frameworks with antioxidant activity and chiral-dependent BBB transendocytosis as anti-neuroinflammatory agents for PD treatment.
- Wei Jiang
- , Qing Li
- & Kelong Fan
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced production of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from lineage-restricted human undifferentiated stem cells
The differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into dopaminergic neurons is challenging. Here, the authors developed lineage-restricted undifferentiated stem cells, which have an enhanced ability for differentiating into dopaminergic neurons.
- Muyesier Maimaitili
- , Muwan Chen
- & Mark Denham
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Article
| Open AccessNR-SAFE: a randomized, double-blind safety trial of high dose nicotinamide riboside in Parkinson’s disease
Oral nicotinamide riboside (NR) at a dose of 3000 mg daily for 30 days is safe and associated with a pronounced systemic augmentation of the NAD metabolome, but no methyl donor depletion.
- Haakon Berven
- , Simon Kverneng
- & Charalampos Tzoulis
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Article
| Open AccessA reversible state of hypometabolism in a human cellular model of sporadic Parkinson’s disease
Mitochondrial dysfunction is a contributing factor in Parkinson’s disease. Here the authors carry out a multilayered omics analysis of Parkinson’s disease patient-derived neuronal cells, which reveals a reversible hypometabolism mediated by α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase deficiency, which is correlated with disease progression in the donating patients.
- Sebastian Schmidt
- , Constantin Stautner
- & Wolfgang Wurst
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Article
| Open AccessEarly-to-mid stage idiopathic Parkinson’s disease shows enhanced cytotoxicity and differentiation in CD8 T-cells in females
Men are at a greater risk to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, Hefeng and team revealed enhanced cytotoxicity and terminal differentiation in CD8 T cells of early-to-mid stage idiopathic PD, especially for females, using systems immunology.
- Christophe M. Capelle
- , Séverine Ciré
- & Feng Q. Hefeng
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Article
| Open AccessBrain-to-gut trafficking of alpha-synuclein by CD11c+ cells in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Despite being implicated in several neurological diseases, the gut-brain axis remains poorly understood. Here the authors describe a mechanism of communication between the brain and the gut in a Parkinson’s disease mouse model mediated by CD11c+ macrophages.
- Rhonda L. McFleder
- , Anastasiia Makhotkina
- & Chi Wang Ip
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Article
| Open AccessA primate nigrostriatal atlas of neuronal vulnerability and resilience in a model of Parkinson’s disease
Using animal models to mimic Parkinson’s disease can advance our understanding of pathogenesis. Here, the authors combine single-cell genomics with a primate model of parkinsonism to provide insights into neuronal vulnerability and resilience.
- Lei Tang
- , Nana Xu
- & Sheng Liu
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Article
| Open AccessKnockout or inhibition of USP30 protects dopaminergic neurons in a Parkinson’s disease mouse model
USP30 has been proposed to regulate mitophagy, a relevant Parkinson’s disease mechanism. Here, the authors show that Usp30 knockout mice and USP30 inhibitors like MTX115325 demonstrate neuroprotective responses in an alpha-synuclein mouse model of Parkinson’s disease.
- Tracy-Shi Zhang Fang
- , Yu Sun
- & David K. Simon
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Article
| Open Accessα-Synuclein aggregates amplified from patient-derived Lewy bodies recapitulate Lewy body diseases in mice
α-Synuclein aggregates in Lewy bodies (LBs) have not been widely used for research due to the limited availability of diseased brains. Here, the authors report a mouse model that recapitulates LB diseases using the LB amplification method.
- Norihito Uemura
- , Nicholas P. Marotta
- & Virginia M.-Y. Lee
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Article
| Open AccessThe α-synuclein PET tracer [18F] ACI-12589 distinguishes multiple system atrophy from other neurodegenerative diseases
A PET tracer for α-synuclein would help diagnosis and treatment of α-syn-related diseases. Here the authors show that ACI-12589 shows an uptake in the cerebellar white matter in patients with multiple-system atrophy.
- Ruben Smith
- , Francesca Capotosti
- & Oskar Hansson
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Comment
| Open AccessGlucocerebrosidase mutations disrupt the lysosome and now the mitochondria
β-Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) mutations lead to glucosylceramide build-up in the lysosome, impacting α-synuclein aggregation and autophagy. Recently, Baden and colleagues found GCase in mitochondria, supporting mitochondrial complex I function and energy metabolism. We believe the newly described role of GCase in the mitochondria will inform new Parkinson’s and Gaucher’s disease therapeutics.
- Andrés D. Klein
- & Tiago Fleming Outeiro
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Article
| Open AccessPatient-specific models link neurotransmitter receptor mechanisms with motor and visuospatial axes of Parkinson’s disease
Neurotransmitter receptor distributions help explain structural and functional brain alterations in Parkinson’s disease. Distinct multi-receptor profiles are associated with the severity of motor, and visuospatial, psychiatric and memory symptoms.
- Ahmed Faraz Khan
- , Quadri Adewale
- & Yasser Iturria-Medina
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Article
| Open AccessProsaposin maintains lipid homeostasis in dopamine neurons and counteracts experimental parkinsonism in rodents
Prosaposin (PSAP) variants are linked to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, the authors report PSP changes in PD and lipid dyshomeostasis and PD-like phenotypes in mice lacking PSAP in dopamine neurons; PSAP overexpression counteracts experimental PD.
- Yachao He
- , Ibrahim Kaya
- & Per Svenningsson
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Article
| Open AccessElevated concentrations cause upright alpha-synuclein conformation at lipid interfaces
The misfolding of alpha-synuclein is associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The authors report a mechanism explaining why lipid membranes catalyze the formation of harmful aggregates at elevated concentrations.
- Steven J. Roeters
- , Kris Strunge
- & Tobias Weidner
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Article
| Open AccessPathological pallidal beta activity in Parkinson’s disease is sustained during sleep and associated with sleep disturbance
Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Here, the authors leverage intracranial recordings in such patients, finding that pathological pallidal activity is present during sleep and associated with sleep disturbance.
- Zixiao Yin
- , Ruoyu Ma
- & Jianguo Zhang
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Article
| Open AccessAn optimized Nurr1 agonist provides disease-modifying effects in Parkinson’s disease models
An optimized agonist of Nurr1, 4A7C-301, protects dopamine neurons against environmental and genetic risk factors of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in vitro, and improves both motor and non-motor deficits in male rodent models of PD.
- Woori Kim
- , Mohit Tripathi
- & Kwang-Soo Kim
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Article
| Open AccessBlood transcriptomic signatures associated with molecular changes in the brain and clinical outcomes in Parkinson’s disease
Understanding molecular processes behind variable clinical features of Parkinson’s disease is valuable. Distinct molecular patterns in the brains, reflected in the blood, reveal mechanisms linked to clinical diversity in cognitive and motor decline.
- Krithi Irmady
- , Caryn R. Hale
- & Robert B. Darnell
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Comment
| Open AccessCNS-associated macrophages shape the inflammatory response in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
In an alpha-synuclein (α-syn) model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), Schonhoff and colleagues have shown that central nervous system (CNS)-associated macrophages (CAMs), but not microglia, potentially orchestrate CD4+ T cell recruitment and mediate an α-syn-induced inflammatory makeup.
- Maximilian Frosch
- , Lukas Amann
- & Marco Prinz
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Article
| Open AccessThe contribution of inflammatory astrocytes to BBB impairments in a brain-chip model of Parkinson’s disease
Astrocytes are implicated in the maintenance of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This study established a microfluidic BBB chip and found that astrocytes may play a role in cerebrovascular dysfunction in people with Parkinson’s disease.
- A. de Rus Jacquet
- , M. Alpaugh
- & F. Cicchetti
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Article
| Open AccessA pesticide and iPSC dopaminergic neuron screen identifies and classifies Parkinson-relevant pesticides
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is linked to environmental factors. Through quantitative epidemiology, this study ties 53 pesticides to PD. An innovative human stem cell platform revealed that 10 of these were directly toxic to human dopamine neurons.
- Kimberly C. Paul
- , Richard C. Krolewski
- & Beate Ritz
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Article
| Open AccessIn situ continuous Dopa supply by responsive artificial enzyme for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Oral dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa) administration to replenish neuronal dopamine is a treatment for Parkinson’s disease but induces fluctuations in plasma Dopa levels. Here the authors report a nucleic acid-based responsive artificial enzyme (FNA-Fe3O4) for in situ continuous Dopa production.
- Xiao Fang
- , Meng Yuan
- & Huanghao Yang
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Article
| Open AccessGut microbiome dysbiosis across early Parkinson’s disease, REM sleep behavior disorder and their first-degree relatives
Microbiota-gut-brain axis may play an important role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, the authors assess gut microbiota in early PD, REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD) and first-degree relatives of RBD and show PD-like gut dysbiosis occurs in RBD and their first-degree relatives.
- Bei Huang
- , Steven W. H. Chau
- & Yun Kwok Wing
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Article
| Open AccessDisrupting the α-synuclein-ESCRT interaction with a peptide inhibitor mitigates neurodegeneration in preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease
ESCRT-III is involved in the endolysosomal system and disturbed in neurodegenerative diseases. Here the authors show that disruption of an interaction between ESCRT-III member CHMP2B and α-synuclein by a peptide inhibitor mitigates neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease models.
- Satra Nim
- , Darren M. O’Hara
- & Philip M. Kim
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Article
| Open AccessAn open label, non-randomized study assessing a prebiotic fiber intervention in a small cohort of Parkinson’s disease participants
This study found that a prebiotic intervention was well-tolerated and safe, beneficially changed the microbiome, decreased inflammation and a marker of neurodegeneration, with possible clinical effects in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. This study offers the rationale for further investigations using prebiotic fibers in PD.
- Deborah A. Hall
- , Robin M. Voigt
- & Ali Keshavarzian
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Article
| Open AccessMetagenomics of Parkinson’s disease implicates the gut microbiome in multiple disease mechanisms
Here, the authors perform large-scale high-resolution Parkinson’s disease metagenomics analyses, revealing widespread dysbiosis characterized by overabundance of pathogens, immunogens, toxicants, and curli, reduction in neuroprotective and antiinflammatory molecules, and dysregulated neuroactive signaling.
- Zachary D. Wallen
- , Ayse Demirkan
- & Haydeh Payami
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Article
| Open AccessDOPAnization of tyrosine in α-synuclein by tyrosine hydroxylase leads to the formation of oligomers
In this work, the authors show that α-synuclein is posttranslationally dopanized at Tyr136 by tyrosine hydroxylase, which facilitates the formation of oligomers. This modification likely impacts pathogenesis and the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease.
- Mingyue Jin
- , Sakiko Matsumoto
- & Shinji Hirotsune
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Article
| Open AccessSmall soluble α-synuclein aggregates are the toxic species in Parkinson’s disease
α-synuclein aggregates cause neuronal damage, but their heterogeneity complicates studying their toxic properties. Here, the authors analyze α-synuclein aggregates in vitro and study post-mortem brain samples, providing evidence that small aggregates are the main culprit for neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease.
- Derya Emin
- , Yu P. Zhang
- & David Klenerman
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Article
| Open AccessSingle residue modulators of amyloid formation in the N-terminal P1-region of α-synuclein
The authors of this work characterize the effect of amino acid substitution on α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation. Residues 38 and 42 (in addition to 39) within the P1 region of α-Syn affect amyloid formation. The effect of substitution at position 38 is dependent on the amino-acid introduced, suggesting that specific interactions control α -Syn aggregation.
- Sabine M. Ulamec
- , Roberto Maya-Martinez
- & David J. Brockwell
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Article
| Open AccessEpigenome-wide association study of human frontal cortex identifies differential methylation in Lewy body pathology
Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies are closely related neurodegenerative disorders, although the epigenetic similarities are not well known. Here, the authors study Lewy pathology and DNA methylation in postmortem human frontal cortex, identifying differentially methylated genomic loci.
- Lasse Pihlstrøm
- , Gemma Shireby
- & Mathias Toft
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Article
| Open AccessLysosomal exocytosis releases pathogenic α-synuclein species from neurons in synucleinopathy models
Release of α-synuclein aggregates by neurons instigates spread of pathology in synucleinopathies, but the mechanism remains unclear. Here the authors show that neuronally generated α-synuclein aggregates accumulate within neuronal lysosomes and are released via SNARE-dependent lysosomal exocytosis.
- Ying Xue Xie
- , Nima N. Naseri
- & Manu Sharma
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Article
| Open AccessPrimary cilia and SHH signaling impairments in human and mouse models of Parkinson’s disease
Here, the authors reveal using single-cell RNA sequencing that Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient-derived neuronal cells show altered primary cilia morphology and signaling suggesting cilia dysfunction may underlie PD pathogenesis.
- Sebastian Schmidt
- , Malte D. Luecken
- & Wolfgang Wurst
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Article
| Open AccessHeparin induces α-synuclein to form new fibril polymorphs with attenuated neuropathology
The Cryo-EM structures reported in this work reveal how heparin incorporates into α-syn fibril formation to determine fibril polymorphs. This highlights the role of biological polymers in the conformational selection and neuropathological regulation of amyloid fibrils.
- Youqi Tao
- , Yunpeng Sun
- & Dan Li
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Article
| Open AccessDeficiency in endocannabinoid synthase DAGLB contributes to early onset Parkinsonism and murine nigral dopaminergic neuron dysfunction
2- arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an abundant endocannabinoid in the brain, regulates diverse neural functions. Here, the authors identified four loss-of-function mutations in dicylglycerol lipase β (DAGLB) from six patients with early onset Parkinsonism. In mice, loss of DAGLB in dopamine neurons reduced neuronal activity and impaired locomotor function and augmentation of 2-AG levels boosted neuronal activity and rescued locomotor deficits.
- Zhenhua Liu
- , Nannan Yang
- & Beisha Tang
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Article
| Open AccessRobust derivation of transplantable dopamine neurons from human pluripotent stem cells by timed retinoic acid delivery
Stem cell based replacement therapies could provide a treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Here the authors outline a retinoic acid-based approach for robust derivation of dopamine neurons from stem cells that restore motor deficits in parkinsonian rats.
- Zhanna Alekseenko
- , José M. Dias
- & Johan Ericson
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Article
| Open AccessPantothenate kinase 2 interacts with PINK1 to regulate mitochondrial quality control via acetyl-CoA metabolism
PKAN and PD are two distinct diseases with overlapping pathophysiology. Here, authors show that their pathogenic genes PANK2 and PINK1 interact. PANK2 regulates mitophagy via CoA metabolism, while PINK1 supervises PANK2 translation on mitochondria.
- Yunpeng Huang
- , Zhihui Wan
- & Bing Zhou
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Article
| Open AccessIntegrating deep learning and unbiased automated high-content screening to identify complex disease signatures in human fibroblasts
By coupling robotic cell culture systems with artificial intelligence–powered image analysis, Schiff et al. identify previously unseen characteristics of Parkinson’s disease in patient skin cells that distinguish them from healthy controls.
- Lauren Schiff
- , Bianca Migliori
- & Bjarki Johannesson