Pathogenetic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease: studies with Positron Emission Tomography

PhD ceremony: Ms. A.L. Bartels, 16.15 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: Pathogenetic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease: studies with Positron Emission Tomography

Promotor(s): prof. K.L. Leenders, prof. R.A. Dierckx

Faculty: Medical Sciences

 

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence of approximately 1 % in the population above 65 years. For the development of treatments to prevent or slow this progressive disease, more knowledge of the pathogenesis is necessary. In this thesis, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is used to study the role of blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction and neuroinflammation as possible contributory factors in PD pathogenesis. We found that decreased BBB P-gp function does not play a primary role in PD development, but may be involved in the progression of neurodegenerative disease.In a toxic PD animal model, treatment with a COX-2 inhibitor did not show diminished microglia activation, but did show decreased up-regulation of P-gp expressing vasculature after the toxic lesion.