Oxymatrine Attenuates Dopaminergic Neuronal Damage and Microglia-Mediated Neuroinflammation Through Cathepsin D-Dependent HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB Pathway in Parkinson's Disease.

Oxymatrine (OMT), a natural quinoxaline alkaloid extracted from the root of , presents amounts of pharmacological properties including immunomodulation, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-virus. Recent studies tend to focus on its effects on neuroinflammation and neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease (PD) due to its profound anti-inflammatory effect. In this study, the neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of OMT were investigated in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-stimulated mice and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP)-induced mice primary microglia.

Knockdown of cathepsin D protects dopaminergic neurons against neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxicity through inhibition of NF-κB signalling pathway in Parkinson's disease model.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder pathologically characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Chronic neuroinflammation is one of the hallmarks of PD pathophysiology. Cathepsin D (CathD), a soluble aspartic protease, has been reported to play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as PD.