N-acetylcysteine Protects Dopamine-Producing Neurons from Stress Damage and Eases Parkinson's Symptoms
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 27 Jun 2016 |
Image: Brain scans from a patient showing dopamine transporter binding (red) before and after a three-month NAC treatment (Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson University).
A preliminary clinical study demonstrated the effectiveness of n-acetylcysteine (NAC) in promoting survival of neurons and alleviating symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress in the brain may play an important role in the Parkinson's disease process, and that this stress reduces levels of the antioxidant glutathione. NAC acts to reduce oxidative damage to neurons by restoring glutathione levels.
The purpose of the clinical study carried out by investigators from Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) was to explore the effects of NAC using both an in vitro and in vivo approach. To find supportive data for the pilot clinical study, the investigators performed a cell line tissue culture study in which they used a model of PD that employed midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to determine whether NAC could protect these mDA neurons from damage resulting from exposure to increasing doses of the PD-like neurotoxin, rotenone.
In the clinical study, patients continued their standard of care and were randomized to receive either daily NAC, alternating between oral and IV administration, or no NAC. Patients were evaluated before and after three months of receiving NAC with DaTscan to measure dopamine transporter (DAT) binding and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to measure clinical symptoms.
Results published in the June 16, 2016, online edition of the journal PLOS One revealed that in the cell line study NAC exposure resulted in significantly more mDA neurons surviving after exposure to rotenone compared to no NAC, consistent with the protective effects of NAC previously observed. In the clinical trial the patients receiving NAC had improvements of 4-9% in dopamine transporter binding and about a 13% improvement in their UPDRS score as compared to untreated control patients.
"This study reveals a potentially new avenue for managing Parkinson's patients and shows that n-acetylcysteine may have a unique physiological effect that alters the disease process and enables dopamine neurons to recover some function," said senior author Dr. Daniel Monti, professor of integrative medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.
Related Links:
Thomas Jefferson University
Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress in the brain may play an important role in the Parkinson's disease process, and that this stress reduces levels of the antioxidant glutathione. NAC acts to reduce oxidative damage to neurons by restoring glutathione levels.
The purpose of the clinical study carried out by investigators from Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA, USA) was to explore the effects of NAC using both an in vitro and in vivo approach. To find supportive data for the pilot clinical study, the investigators performed a cell line tissue culture study in which they used a model of PD that employed midbrain dopamine (mDA) neurons generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to determine whether NAC could protect these mDA neurons from damage resulting from exposure to increasing doses of the PD-like neurotoxin, rotenone.
In the clinical study, patients continued their standard of care and were randomized to receive either daily NAC, alternating between oral and IV administration, or no NAC. Patients were evaluated before and after three months of receiving NAC with DaTscan to measure dopamine transporter (DAT) binding and the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) to measure clinical symptoms.
Results published in the June 16, 2016, online edition of the journal PLOS One revealed that in the cell line study NAC exposure resulted in significantly more mDA neurons surviving after exposure to rotenone compared to no NAC, consistent with the protective effects of NAC previously observed. In the clinical trial the patients receiving NAC had improvements of 4-9% in dopamine transporter binding and about a 13% improvement in their UPDRS score as compared to untreated control patients.
"This study reveals a potentially new avenue for managing Parkinson's patients and shows that n-acetylcysteine may have a unique physiological effect that alters the disease process and enables dopamine neurons to recover some function," said senior author Dr. Daniel Monti, professor of integrative medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.
Related Links:
Thomas Jefferson University
Latest BioResearch News
- Genome Analysis Predicts Likelihood of Neurodisability in Oxygen-Deprived Newborns
- Gene Panel Predicts Disease Progession for Patients with B-cell Lymphoma
- New Method Simplifies Preparation of Tumor Genomic DNA Libraries
- New Tool Developed for Diagnosis of Chronic HBV Infection
- Panel of Genetic Loci Accurately Predicts Risk of Developing Gout
- Disrupted TGFB Signaling Linked to Increased Cancer-Related Bacteria
- Gene Fusion Protein Proposed as Prostate Cancer Biomarker
- NIV Test to Diagnose and Monitor Vascular Complications in Diabetes
- Semen Exosome MicroRNA Proves Biomarker for Prostate Cancer
- Genetic Loci Link Plasma Lipid Levels to CVD Risk
- Newly Identified Gene Network Aids in Early Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Link Confirmed between Living in Poverty and Developing Diseases
- Genomic Study Identifies Kidney Disease Loci in Type I Diabetes Patients
- Liquid Biopsy More Effective for Analyzing Tumor Drug Resistance Mutations
- New Liquid Biopsy Assay Reveals Host-Pathogen Interactions
- Method Developed for Enriching Trophoblast Population in Samples