The role and therapeutic potential of connexins, pannexins and their channels in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Lack of effective medication for slowing down progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) as a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder requires novel avenues of scientific investigation to elucidate the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms. Studying connexins, pannexins and their channels has uncovered their potential role in mediating communication and signaling pathways that drive neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. Indeed, given their critical role in tissue homeostasis, it is not surprising that connexins, pannexins and their channels are frequently involved in pathological processes. For this reason, pharmacological tools to further clarify their functions and to validate connexins, pannexins and their channels as drug targets for the development of novel therapies for PD treatment are urgently needed. In this paper, a state-of-the-art overview is provided of current neuropathological and molecular understanding of PD. Focus is put on the roles of connexins, pannexins and their channels, in particular in the development of potential innovative disease-modifying therapies for PD treatment.

Keywords: Connexin; Gap junction; Hemichannels; Inflammation; Pannexin; Parkinson's disease.