Parkinson’s and proteins

  Q14

Is brain inflammation in Parkinson’s disease unique?

[Answer]

This image helps answer this controversial question. It shows western blots, a technique used to detect proteins and show protein changes.

The proteins in this image are from donated brain tissues of people who were healthy, people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and people with two rare disorders: progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). The proteins, listed at far right, are relevant to one type of brain inflammation.

The blots show that protein activity related to inflammation is surprisingly similar in people with Parkinson’s disease and in healthy people, but is higher, with more protein fragments and aggregates, in people with PSP and MSA. This finding suggests possible damage to brain inflammatory reaction in people with Parkinson’s disease, which may be a target for potential protective treatment.

  Source: Dr. Junchao Tong, Dr. Stephen Kish

---