| First Author | Vila M | Year | 2001 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | Volume | 98 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 2837-42 |
| PubMed ID | 11226327 | Mgi Jnum | J:67861 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1931634 | Doi | 10.1073/pnas.051633998 |
| Citation | Vila M, et al. (2001) Bax ablation prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the 1-methyl- 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 98(5):2837-42 |
| abstractText | 1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) damages dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) as seen in Parkinson's disease. Here, we show that the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is highly expressed in the SNpc and that its ablation attenuates SNpc developmental neuronal apoptosis. In adult mice, there is an up-regulation of Bax in the SNpc after MPTP administration and a decrease in Bcl-2. These changes parallel MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. We also show that mutant mice lacking Bax are significantly more resistant to MPTP than their wild-type littermates. This study demonstrates that Bax plays a critical role in the MPTP neurotoxic process and suggests that targeting Bax may provide protective benefit in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. |
