Laura M Butkovich, Madelyn C Houser, Termpanit Chalermpalanupap, Kirsten A Porter-Stransky, Alexa F Iannitelli, Jake S Boles, Grace M Lloyd, Alexandra S Coomes, Lori N Eidson, Maria Elizabeth De Sousa Rodrigues, Danielle L Oliver, Sean D Kelly, Jianjun Chang, Nora Bengoa-Vergniory, Richard Wade-Martins, Benoit I Giasson, Valerie Joers, David Weinshenker, Malú Gámez Tansey
Degeneration of locus ceruleus (LC) neurons and dysregulation of noradrenergic signaling are ubiquitous features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The LC is among the first brain regions affected by α-synuclein (asyn) pathology, yet how asyn affects these neurons remains unclear. LC-derived norepinephrine (NE) can stimulate neuroprotective mechanisms and modulate immune cells, while dysregulation of NE neurotransmission may exacerbate disease progression, particularly nonmotor symptoms, and contribute to the chronic neuroinflammation associated with PD pathology...
September 23, 2020: Journal of Neuroscience