Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor impairments and resulting from progressive degenerative loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in the substantia nigra. Although the main cause of the loss of DAergic neurons is still unknown, various etiopathogenic mechanisms are distinguished, including release and accumulation of endogenous excitotoxic mediators along with the production of oxidative free radicals. Several neurotrophic and growth factors are known to increase DAergic neuronal survival and enhance antioxidant mechanisms. In this context, the micro-immunotherapy (MI) approach consists to regulate the immune system in order to protect DAergic neurons and control oxidative stress.
Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the MI medicine (MIM), 2LPARK® (Labo'Life), on oxidative stress and on the number of neurons positive for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), in an in vitro model of PD.
Methods: Rat primary mesencephalic DAergic neurons cultures were pre-treated for 1 hr with the MIM (10 μM and 10 mM), placebo (10 μM and 10 mM) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; 3.3 μM) and then intoxicated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 20 μM) for 48 hrs. After incubation, cells were incubated 30 mins at 37°C with CellROX green reagent and number of labeled cells were quantified. Then, cells were fixed and incubated with anti-TH antibody and the number of TH+ neurons was evaluated.
Results: We showed that, contrary to placebo, MIM was able to reduce oxidative stress and protect DAergic neurons from 6-OHDA-induced cell death.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the in vitro efficacy of MIM on two essential mechanisms of PD and propose the MI approach as a new ally in the regulation of neuroinflammation and in the treatment of this degenerative disease.
Keywords: growth factors; immune system; low dose; micro-immunotherapy; neurotrophic factors.