| First Author | Hunot S | Year | 2004 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 101 |
| Issue | 2 | Pages | 665-70 |
| PubMed ID | 14704277 | Mgi Jnum | J:87428 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:2687113 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.0307453101 |
| Citation | Hunot S, et al. (2004) JNK-mediated induction of cyclooxygenase 2 is required for neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 101(2):665-70 |
| abstractText | Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by loss of dopamine-containing neurons, but the molecular pathways underlying its pathogenesis remain uncertain. Here, we show that by eliminating c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) we can prevent neurodegeneration and improve motor function in an animal model of PD. First, we found that c-Jun is activated in dopaminergic neurons from PD patients and in the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,4,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. Examination of various JNK-deficient mice shows that both JNK2 and JNK3, but not JNK1, are required for MPTP-induced c-Jun activation and dopaminergic cell demise. Furthermore, we have identified cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 as a molecular target of JNK activation and demonstrated that COX-2 is indispensable for MPTP-induced dopaminergic cell death. Our data revealed that JNK2- and JNK3-induced COX-2 may be a principle pathway responsible for neurodegeneration in PD. |
