In Parkinson's disease a preferential loss of neurons containing neuromelanin occurs with respect to the neurons which do not contain neuromelanin. We have previously shown that neuromelanin inside neurons plays a protective role by preventing different types of oxidative stress. However a chronic inflammatory condition takes place during Parkinson's disease in the brain region which is the target of the disease and this inflammation is particularly evident in proximity of neuromelanin granules. We have shown that neuromelanin induces the release of compounds toxic for neurons in a type of brain cells called microglia and we have also demonstrated that some types of drugs inhibit this release of neurotoxic compounds. In this project we will investigate if neuromelanin isolated from human brain can induce neuroinflammation with the consequent neuronal damage. This process will be studied in cell cultures and rat brain. If neuromelanin will induce neuronal damage like in Parkinson's disease, this model will reproduce the chronic neurodegenerative condition occurring in Parkinson's disease. Moreover this model will be used as a novel tool to evaluate new drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers
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Luigi Zecca, MD, PhD