Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent age-related neurodegenerative disorder, after Alzheimer's disease, affecting up to 5% of the population aged 65 ? 85 years. Veterans are at increased risk for PD because the veteran population is older than the United States population as a whole and because veterans are more likely to have been exposed to toxic environmental agents during deployment. Despite great strides in research over the past two decades, the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease is still largely unknown. Although families have been identified with single gene mutations, the majority of PD cases are classified as idiopathic. Animal studies, and subsequent epidemiological studies, have established a link between environmental exposure to agents such as paraquat, maneb and rotenone in idiopathic or sporadic PD. The mechanisms by which exposure to pesticides with different mechanisms of action may increase the risk of PD are not fully understood, and treatment strategies to prevent or slow disease progression have not been identified. However, a growing body of evidence from our lab and others has implicated impaired aldehyde detoxification. For example, cytosolic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH1) expression is reduced in the SN of PD patients. The widespread reduction in ALDH1 in central and peripheral tissues in sporadic PD has suggested the possibility of using it as a diagnostic biomarker. Epidemiological studies of the farming communities in the Central Valley in California have linked polymorphisms in mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) to enhanced risk of PD in people exposed to agricultural pesticides. Our working hypothesis is that impaired aldehyde detoxification consequent to exposure to environmental agents, and/or reduced aldehyde dehydrogenase expression leads to elevated ?aldehyde load? including increased levels of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), aldehyde products of dopamine metabolism and lipid peroxidation, respectively. We hypothesize that these aldehydes may form adducts with ?-synuclein producing toxic fibrils that cause neurodegeneration. To test this hypothesis in vivo, we created a line of mice with homozygous mutations in the only two aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes, Aldh1a1 and Aldh2, known to be present in midbrain dopamine neurons. The Aldh1a1-/-xAldh2-/- (DKO) mice exhibit elevation of DOPAL and 4-HNE that precedes age-related impairments in motor function, reduced dopamine and metabolites, and loss of midbrain dopamine neurons starting around 12 months of age and continuing to progress to at least 23 months of age. We then crossed this line of mice to mice overexpressing human wild-type ?-synuclein to create a triple transgenic line (TTG) to determine the downstream effects of elevated biogenic aldehydes on ?-synuclein. Preliminary behavioral studies show that elevated biogenic aldehydes accelerate the age-related decline in measures of gait, rotarod performance, pole-test and fine motor performance in TTG mice. Our overall aim in the next period of funding is to understand mechanistically the link between biogenic aldehydes and ?-synuclein in vivo in dopaminergic dysfunction. We will then evaluate aldehydes as therapeutic targets for FDA approved agents that reduce toxic aldehyde levels to slow or prevent the neuropathological and behavioral manifestations of PD.
The Specific Aims are:
Specific Aim 1 : To determine whether elevated biogenic aldehydes exacerbates behavioral deficits in mice overexpressing human wildtype ?Syn.
Specific Aim 2 : To determine whether elevated biogenic aldehydes exacerbate neurochemical and histopathological changes in mice overexpressing human wildtype ?Syn.
Specific Aim 3 : To determine whether hydralazine, an agent that traps aldehydes, will rescue behavioral and neurochemical changes observed in Aims 1 and 2. The work proposed will potentially identify new therapeutic targets and agents for treatment of veterans with Parkinson's disease.

Public Health Relevance

The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is largely unknown. Preclinical and epidemiological studies provide a strong link between old age, prior exposure to pesticides and the increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. This is of particular relevance to the VA because military personnel are often exposed to environmental toxins, including pesticides, during deployment. Moreover, the veteran population is older than the U.S. population and thus at increased risk. Recent evidence supports a role for elevated biogenic aldehydes in PD. The work proposed will not only help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease, but it will determine whether agents that lower biogenic aldehydes may be neuroprotective in Parkinson's disease. The test agent and potential alternatives are FDA-approved drugs for which there is abundant information on their safety and efficacy. Therefore, if these preclinical studies show efficacy in models of PD, then they may be more easily tested clinically.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Type
Non-HHS Research Projects (I01)
Project #
5I01BX001641-06
Application #
10043827
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRD1)
Project Start
2013-04-01
Project End
2023-09-30
Budget Start
2020-10-01
Budget End
2021-09-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
South Texas Veterans Health Care System
Department
Type
DUNS #
078493228
City
San Antonio
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78229
Bai, Xiang; Wey, Margaret Chia-Ying; Fernandez, Elizabeth et al. (2015) Rapamycin improves motor function, reduces 4-hydroxynonenal adducted protein in brain, and attenuates synaptic injury in a mouse model of synucleinopathy. Pathobiol Aging Age Relat Dis 5:28743
Bai, Xiang; Strong, Randy (2014) Expression of synaptophysin protein in different dopaminergic cell lines. J Biochem Pharmacol Res 2:185-190
Bai, Xiang; Hussong, Stacy A (2014) A new mouse model to study compensatory mechanisms that support normal motor function in Parkinson's disease. J Biochem Pharmacol Res 2:54-56
Bai, Xiang; Fermandez, Elizabeth; Gould, Georgianna et al. (2013) Homozygous Deletion of Glutathione Peroxidase 1 and Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1a1 Genes Is Not Associated with Schizophrenia-Like Behavior in Mice. J Biochem Pharmacol Res 1:228-235