Necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, three modes of action of dopaminergic neuron neurotoxins

PLoS One. 2019 Apr 25;14(4):e0215277. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215277. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Most of the Parkinson's disease (PD) cases are sporadic, although several genes are directly related to PD. Several pathways are central in PD pathogenesis: protein aggregation linked to proteasomal impairments, mitochondrial dysfunctions and impairment in dopamine (DA) release. Here we studied the close crossing of mitochondrial dysfunction and aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) and in the extension in the dopaminergic neuronal death. Here, using rat primary cultures of mesencephalic neurons, we induced the mitochondrial impairments using "DA-toxins" (MPP+, 6OHDA, rotenone). We showed that the DA-Toxins induced dopaminergic cell death through different pathways: caspase-dependent cell death for 6OHDA; MPP+ stimulated caspase-independent cell death, and rotenone activated both pathways. In addition, a decrease in energy production and/or a development of oxidative stress were observed and were linked to α-syn aggregation with generation of Lewy body-like inclusions (found inside and outside the dopaminergic neurons). We demonstrated that any of induced mitochondrial disturbances and processes of death led to α-syn protein aggregation and finally to cell death. Our study depicts the cell death mechanisms taking place in in vitro models of Parkinson's disease and how mitochondrial dysfunctions is at the cross road of the pathologies of this disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / cytology
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mesencephalon / cytology
  • Mitochondria / drug effects*
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Necroptosis / drug effects
  • Necrosis / chemically induced
  • Neurotoxins / toxicity*
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidopamine / toxicity
  • Parkinson Disease / etiology
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / etiology
  • Protein Aggregation, Pathological / pathology*
  • Rats
  • Rotenone / toxicity
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism

Substances

  • Neurotoxins
  • Snca protein, rat
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Rotenone
  • Oxidopamine
  • 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium

Grants and funding

This study was funded by internal funds of Neuro-Sys SAS. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors NC, MC, AH, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. PP is member of the scientific board of Neuro-Sys. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.