Expression Analysis of Genes Involved in Transport Processes in Mice with MPTP-Induced Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Processes of intracellular and extracellular transport play one of the most important roles in the functioning of cells. Changes to transport mechanisms in a neuron can lead to the disruption of many cellular processes and even to cell death. It was shown that disruption of the processes of vesicular, axonal, and synaptic transport can lead to a number of diseases of the central nervous system, including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we studied changes in the expression of genes whose protein products are involved in the transport processes (Snca, Drd2, Rab5a, Anxa2, and Nsf) in the brain tissues and peripheral blood of mice with MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-induced models of PD. We detected changes in the expressions of Drd2, Anxa2, and Nsf at the earliest modeling stages. Additionally, we have identified conspicuous changes in the expression level of Anxa2 in the striatum and substantia nigra of mice with MPTP-induced models of PD in its early stages. These data clearly suggest the involvement of protein products in these genes in the earliest stages of the pathogenesis of PD.

Application of OpenArray Technology to Assess Changes in the Expression of Functionally Significant Genes in the Substantia Nigra of Mice in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease

“…It should be noted that α-synuclein oligomers can spread from neuron to neuron in a prion-like fashion via the intercellular space, thereby expanding the zone of neurodegeneration [82,85]. The decrease in Snca expression in the SN that we discovered, which was also shown in other studies when modeling PD in mice [87], may lead to a decrease in protein aggregation.…”

Analysis of ADORA2A, MTA1, PTGDS, PTGS2, NSF, and HNMT Gene Expression Levels in Peripheral Blood of Patients with Early Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

“…In our earlier work focused on the analysis of the expression of transport-associated genes in the brain tissues of mice with the MPTP-induced PD model, interesting results were obtained for the NSF gene [26]. We observed a significant increase in mRNA levels of this gene in the SN and striatum tissues in mice with an MPTP-induced model of early PD stage.…”

“…We also performed expression analysis for the HNMT, NSF, and PTGS2 genes selected for analysis based on work previously performed in the laboratory and analysis of published data [25,26].…”

“…Previously, we found a significant change in the expression of three genes associated with circadian rhythms, ADORA2A, MTA1, and PTGDS, in the peripheral blood of twins with PD [24], as well as PTGS2, associated with inflammatory processes, in fibroblast samples from twins with PD [25]. When studying mice with an MPTP-induced model of the early stage of PD, we obtained interesting results on changes in the expression of the NSF gene, the protein product of which is involved in transport processes [26]. In addition, the HNMT gene was selected by analyzing the published data.…”