C-reactive protein expression in a rodent model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

White matter lesions (WML) are a clinically significant, common feature of the aging brain and have been associated with cognitive decline and depression. They are a manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease, which is associated with the progression of vascular dementia. Recent research has been focused on identifying biomarkers which may have a correlation with WML.

Involvement of the Fc gamma receptor in a chronic N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of dopaminergic loss.

Although there is growing evidence for a role of the innate immune response in Parkinson's disease, the nature of any humoral response in dopaminergic degeneration is uncertain. Here we report on a protracted N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine model of dopaminergic death that potentially allows a more full adaptive humoral response to develop. Rag2 mutant mice that lack the full adaptive response (deficient in both T and B cells) are resistant to dopaminergic death and behavioral deficiencies in this model.

Role of Cdk5-mediated phosphorylation of Prx2 in MPTP toxicity and Parkinson's disease.

We reported previously that calpain-mediated Cdk5 activation is critical for mitochondrial toxin-induced dopaminergic death. Here, we report a target that mediates this loss. Prx2, an antioxidant enzyme, binds Cdk5/p35.

Involvement of interferon-gamma in microglial-mediated loss of dopaminergic neurons.

Growing evidence implicates microglia in the loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, factors mediating microglial activation in PD are poorly understood. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), orchestrate the actions of microglia.