The key role of T cells in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis and therapy

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2019 Mar:60:25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2018.10.029. Epub 2018 Oct 28.

Abstract

This review focuses on the role of T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and highlights evidence for modulation of the T cell response as an effective neuroprotective strategy. In preclinical models of Parkinson's disease, modulation of the T cell response results in neuroprotection. Peripheral markers of T cell response show changes in Parkinson's patients relative to controls that have potential application as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers. The article also discusses the important immunomodulatory effects of dopamine which may confound study of T cells in patients on dopaminergic therapies, and highlights glatiramer acetate, an FDA-approved therapy for multiple sclerosis that works through modulating the T cell response, as a promising target for translation.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Dopamine; Glatiramer acetate; Immunomodulation; Neuroinflammation; Neuroprotection; Parkinson's disease; Pathogenesis; T cells; T lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers* / blood
  • Disease Progression*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation* / blood
  • Inflammation* / complications
  • Inflammation* / drug therapy
  • Inflammation* / immunology
  • Parkinson Disease* / blood
  • Parkinson Disease* / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease* / etiology
  • Parkinson Disease* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes* / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes* / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Immunologic Factors