Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2012 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Chen X, Wu G, Schwarzschild MA.
Abstract
Parkinson's
disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with
characteristic motor manifestations. Although appreciation of PD as a
multisystem disorder has grown, loss of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra remains a pathological and neurochemical hallmark,
accounting for the substantial symptomatic benefits of dopamine
replacement therapies. However, currently no treatment has been shown
to prevent or forestall the progression of the disease in spite of
tremendous efforts. Among multiple environmental and genetic factors
that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD, oxidative stress
is proposed to play a critical role. A recent confluence of clinical,
epidemiological, and laboratory evidence identified urate, an
antioxidant and end product of purine metabolism, as not only a
molecular predictor for both reduced risk and favorable progression of
PD but also a potential neuroprotectant for the treatment of PD. This
review summarizes recent findings on urate in PD and their clinical
implications.
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