A common virus potentially contributing to Parkinson's disease development?
In a groundbreaking study conducted at Red University, researchers have uncovered a significant finding that could potentially shed light on the causes of Parkinson's disease (PD). The study, which focused on investigating various factors linked to PD, has identified the presence of human pegivirus (HPgV) in half of the PD brains analysed, but none of the age- and sex-matched controls were HPgV positive.
The study, published in the Journal of Neurology, used RNA-Seq to examine the immune signaling in HPgV-infected PD samples. The results showed consistent suppression of IL-4 signaling in both the brain and blood of HPgV-positive PD patients. Furthermore, a longitudinal analysis of blood samples revealed a genotype-dependent viral response, with HPgV titers correlating directly with IL-4 signaling in a LRRK2 genotype-dependent manner.
The team, led by Professor John Smith, aims to answer a big question: how often does the virus get into the brains of people with or without Parkinson's. They also aim to understand how viruses and genes interact, insights that could reveal how Parkinson's begins and could help guide future therapies.
The research team plans to study more people to find out how common the HPgV virus is in PD patients and whether it plays a role in the disease. Preliminary findings suggest that HPgV-positive PD patients had lower pS65-ubiquitin levels, indicating disruption in metabolism or mitophagy in response to HPgV. Additionally, these patients showed increased neuropathology by Braak stage and higher IGF-1 levels in their blood.
The study also investigated factors such as metal exposure, effects of octenol from mold emissions disrupting dopamine balance, and external causes such as traumatic brain injuries and infections. These factors are known to be associated with PD, but the current study focuses primarily on the role of HPgV.
According to the Parkinson's Foundation, over one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson's disease, and 90,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The number of people living with Parkinson's disease is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. The findings from this study could potentially lead to new treatments and a better understanding of this debilitating disease.
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