Investigating neurescence in dopaminergic neurons of PrknR275W mice

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating brain disorder accompained by the death of dopamine-producing neurons. Aging is the main risk factor for PD, but early-onset forms also exist and are often linked to mutations in PRKN gene, which encodes for a cellular protein called Parkin. Evidence suggests that these mutations may perturb dopamine neuron function and increase brain inflammation, although the exact mechanisms behind the neuronal death remain unclear. Recent discoveries suggest that “neuronal senescence,” a form of cellular aging, may contribute to age-related brain diseases including PD, but its role in triggering neuronal death is not fully understood. This work aims to study senescence markers in dopamine-containing neurons of a new preclinical mouse model of juvenile parkinsonism that harbors a mutation in PRKN gene. Neuronal senescence could serve as a potential therapeutic target since it can be modulated by senolytic drugs, that have already been developed for other diseases. The findings of this research may lead to new neuroprotective treatments for PD.

Faculty Supervisor:

Louis-Eric Trudeau

Student:

Partner:

Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

Université de Montréal

Program: