Relation between the high production related allele of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma ) gene and age at onset of idiopathic Parkinson's disease in Japan
Open Access
- 1 December 2001
- journal article
- letter
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Vol. 71 (6) , 818a-819
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.71.6.818a
Abstract
Although the pathogenesis of progressive degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease remains uncertain, cytokines are thought to contribute to the development of the disease.1 Interferon (IFN)-γ is one of the Th1 cell derived multifunctional cytokines and seems to influence neuronal differentiation and to increase in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.2 Immunohistochemical studies showed an increase of IFN-γ expression in nigral astrocytes of patients with Parkinson's disease.3 This increase of IFN-γ concentration may be a trigger for the disease or a compensatory response. It was reported that IFN-γ producing capacity in whole blood cultures of untreated parkinsonian patients decreased compared with sex and age matched healthy controls.4 This supports the idea that IFN-γ may increase in Parkinson's disease as a compensatory response. …Keywords
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