A DJ-1 based peptide attenuates dopaminergic degeneration in mice models of Parkinson's disease via enhancing Nrf2

Nirit Lev, Yael Barhum, Tali Ben-Zur, Israel Aharony, Lena Trifonov, Noa Regev, Eldad Melamed, Arie Gruzman, Daniel Offen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Drugs currently used for treating Parkinson's disease patients provide symptomatic relief without altering the neurodegenerative process. Our aim was to examine the possibility of using DJ-1 (PARK7), as a novel therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. We designed a short peptide, named ND-13. This peptide consists of a 13 amino acids segment of the DJ-1-protein attached to 7 amino acids derived from TAT, a cell penetrating protein. We examined the effects of ND-13 using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of Parkinson's disease. We demonstrated that ND-13 protects cultured cells against oxidative and neurotoxic insults, reduced reactive oxygen species accumulation, activated the protective erythroid-2 related factor 2 system and increased cell survival. ND-13 robustly attenuated dopaminergic system dysfunction and in improved the behavioral outcome in the 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of Parkinson's disease, both in wild type and in DJ-1 knockout mice. Moreover, ND-13 restored dopamine content in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model. These findings validate DJ-1 as a promising therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease and identify a novel peptide with clinical potential, which may be significant for a broader range of neurological diseases, possibly with an important impact for the neurosciences.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0127549
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume10
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 29 May 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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