Drug treatment of parkinson's disease : Time for phase II

摘要: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative syndrome for which at present no cure available; therapy consists mainly of amelioration the symptoms with L-Dopa and/or dopamine (DA) agonists. Development an effective causal should be focussed on preventing or least retarding process underlying disease. At cellular level, PD characterized by degeneration neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. Neuromelanin formation outcome generally known as DA autooxidation, chain oxidation reactions highly neurotoxic DA-quinones are produced. The level these DA-quinones, estimated occurrence their cysteinyl conjugates, reported to increased Parkinsonian Hence, stimulation pathways implicated detoxication brain may provide neuroprotection PD. Besides inactivation through non-enzymatic antioxidants such ascorbic acid and glutathione, efficiently inactivated enzymatically NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO) glutathione transferase(s), both expressed human activity enzymes, belong group phase II biotransformation can up-regulated large variety compounds. These compounds, including dithiolethiones, phenolic anti-oxidants, isothiocyanates, have been shown active vitro vivo. Thus, considering role particular NQO we propose that enzyme inducers warrant evaluation neuroprotective potential