UCLA scientists discover protective strategy against pesticide-linked Parkinson's disease

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/uoc--usd061416.php

Public Release: 15-Jun-2016
UCLA scientists discover protective strategy against pesticide-linked Parkinson's disease
University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences

Exposure to a group of common pesticides, called dithiocarbamates, has long been associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, although the mechanism by which the compounds exert their toxicity on the brain has not been completely understood. A new UCLA study sheds light on the toxicity of the compounds while also suggesting a strategy that may help protect against the disease.

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Next, the researchers gave the non-protected zebrafish an investigational drug, CLRO1, being developed by UCLA scientists that breaks up the protein aggregates, or clumps, in Parkinson's patients. They found that the drug provided protection from the Parkinson's-like condition in the fish.

"Getting rid of the protein genetically or breaking up the aggregates with this drug protected against ziram toxicity," Bronstein said. "This is important - it establishes that environmental toxins work on same pathway that is in play in those genetically disposed to Parkinson's. Most important, we can use drugs being developed now on patients who get Parkinson's because of ziram exposure."

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About 70 percent of Parkinson's cases cannot be explained by genetics, Bronstein said, so the new finding could be vital to a large percentage of patients whose disease is not genetically caused.