Alterations in Blood Monocyte Functions in Parkinson's Disease, 2019, Konstantin Nissen et al

[Andy]

Background
PD is a multisystem disease where both central and peripheral nervous systems are affected. This systemic involvement also includes the immune response in PD, which implicates not only microglia in the brain, but also peripheral immune cells, such as monocytes; however, this aspect has been understudied.

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the PD‐related changes in peripheral immune cells, their responsiveness to stimulation, and their ability to release immunomodulatory molecules that might have consequences for the disease progression.

Methods
Using flow cytometry, we investigated the monocytic population in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from PD patients and healthy individuals. We also evaluated the in vitro response to inflammogen lipopolysaccharides and to fibrillar α‐synuclein by measuring the expression of CD14, CD163, and HLA‐DR and by analysis of soluble immune‐related molecules in the supernatant.

Results
Peripheral blood immune cells from PD patients had lower survival in culture, but showed a higher monocytic proliferative ability than control cells, which was correlated with shorter disease duration and late disease onset. In addition, PD patients’ cells were less responsive to stimulation, as shown by the lack of changes in CD163 and CD14 expression, and by the absence of significant upregulation of anti‐inflammatory cytokines in culture. Moreover, PD peripheral immune cells shed lower in vitro levels of soluble CD163, which suggests a less responsive monocytic population and/or an activation status different from control cells. Interestingly, some of the results were sex associated, supporting a differential immune response in females versus males.

Conclusions
Our data suggest that PD involves monocytic changes in blood. These cells show reduced viability and are unresponsive to specific stimuli, which might have a relevant consequence for disease progression.

Paywall, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/mds.27815
Sci hub, https://sci-hub.se/10.1002/mds.27815

Article about the paper

Summary: Parkinson’s disease involves monocytic alterations in the blood. The cells have reduced viability and are unresponsive to specific stimuli, which could have relevant consequences for the progression of Parkinson’s. Immune modulation medications may be a new treatment option to inhibit neurodegeneration associated with PD.

Source: Aarhus University

The behavior of immune cells in the blood is so different in patients with Parkinson’s disease that it advocates for a new type of supplementary medicine, which can regulate the immune system and thus inhibit the deterioration of the brain.

These are the perspectives in a new study which researchers from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, Denmark, are behind. The article has just been published in the scientific journal Movement Disorders.

“The research project confirms a growing theory that Parkinson’s disease is not only a brain disease, but is also connected with the immune system. Both in the brain and the rest of the body,” says Marina Romero-Ramos, associate professor of neuroscience, who leads the team behind the study.

https://neurosciencenews.com/parkinsons-blood-15022/

 

[beverlyhills]

Every PD medication significantly alters PBMC composition (even the carb- and levo- component of DOPA have different effects, so does selegiline). No med stratification, no doses.

Do an intergroup comparison with patients whom have had deep brain stimulation off of meds...

I don't understand how this gets past reviewers...