Healthy Living
Glutathione in Parkinson`s disease: a link between oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage?
By Di Monte DA; Chan P; Sandy MS
Address: California Parkinson`s Foundation, San Jose 95128Source: Ann Neurol
Abstract
Several links exist between the two mechanismsof neuronal degeneration (i.e., oxygen radical production and mitochondrialdamage) proposed to have a role in Parkinson`s disease. Indeed, mitochondriaare critical targets for the toxic inJury induced by oxygen radicals,and experimental evidence suggests that mitochondrial damage may causean increased generation of oxygen radicals. A potentially importantlink between these two mechanisms of neurodegeneration is glutathione.Because of the scavenging activity of glutathione against accumulationof oxygen radicals, its decrease in the brains of parkinsonian patientshas been interpreted as a sign of oxidative stress; however, thischange may also result from or lead to mitochondrial damage. It isconceivable therefore that regardless of whether oxidative stressor mitochondrial damage represents the initial insult, these toxicmechanisms may both contribute to neuronal degeneration via changesin glutathione levels.
Publication Type: Journal Article, Review; Review, Tutorial