Novel Targets for Parkinson's Disease: Addressing Different Therapeutic Paradigms and Conundrums

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2019 Jan 16;10(1):44-57. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00180. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is pathologically characterized by degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). PD leads to clinical motor features that include rigidity, tremor, and bradykinesia. Despite multiple available therapies for PD, the clinical features continue to progress, and patients suffer progressive disability. Many advances have been made in PD therapy which directly target the cause of the disease rather than providing symptomatic relief. A neuroprotective or disease modifying strategy that can slow or cease clinical progression and worsening disability remains as a major unmet medical need for PD management. The present review discusses potential novel therapies for PD that include recent interventions in the form of immunomodulatory techniques and stem cell therapy. Further, an introspective approach to identify numerous other novel targets that can alleviate PD pathogenesis and enable physicians to practice multitargeted therapy and that may provide a ray of hope to PD patients in the future are discussed.

Keywords: Parkinson’s disease; immunization; neuroinflammation; neuroprotection; neuroregeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparkinson Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antiparkinson Agents / metabolism*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / drug effects
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism*
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Delivery Systems / trends*
  • Humans
  • Nerve Regeneration / drug effects
  • Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
  • Neuroprotection / drug effects
  • Neuroprotection / physiology
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism*
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology
  • Pars Compacta / drug effects
  • Pars Compacta / metabolism*
  • Pars Compacta / pathology

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents