Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative neurological disorder that is estimated to affect at least 1 million individuals in the U.S. and ovr 10 million worldwide. PD is a complex disorder, and no single gene has been linked to a significant percentage of cases, suggesting that environmental factors or gene-environment interactions may contribute to the etiology or clinical manifestation. A polymorphism in the xenobiotic transporter Multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1, also known as P-glycoprotein) that reduces its function has been observed more frequently in PD patients who were exposed to pesticides. This finding raises the possibility that altered MDR1 function increases the risk for PD in people exposed to pesticides. Since MDR1 is critically important in expelling chemicals from the brain, we have hypothesized that MDR1 actively effluxes pesticides from the brain and genetic or acquired deficiency in this transporter may contribute to neurodegeneration. Our main research aim is to identify MDR1 as a primary efflux transporter responsible for removing pesticides, including the herbicide paraquat that has been linked to dopaminergic neurodgeneration, from the brain and protecting against neurodegeneration. This is significant because 1) MDR1 is prominently expressed in human brain capillary endothelial cells and other neuronal cells, 2) a polymorphism in MDR1 has been associated with increased risk of PD in patients exposed to pesticides, and 3) neuroinflammation, which is associated with multiple degenerative diseases including PD, has been found to down-regulate MDR1. Therefore, it is expected that these data will provide a better understanding of the genetic and inflammatory regulation of MDR1 as well as the potential role of MDR1 in the retention of pesticides in the brain, and will allow us to determine the mechanism of gene-environment interactions between MDR1, pesticides, and neurodegeneration.

Public Health Relevance

This project will provide a mechanistic insight into the associations between pesticide exposure, MDR1 genetic variation, and neurodegeneration. By studying the interaction of genetic variation, inflammation, and environmental exposure, we will likely demonstrate the convergence of multiple pathways previously implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. This, in turn, could lead to new avenues in identifying individuals most susceptible to pesticides-induced neurotoxicity and potentially lead to therapeutic interventions to increase clearance of pesticides from the brain.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES021800-04
Application #
9063548
Study Section
Neurotoxicology and Alcohol Study Section (NAL)
Program Officer
Hollander, Jonathan
Project Start
2014-09-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2016-06-01
Budget End
2017-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Northeast Ohio Medical University
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
077779882
City
Rootstown
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44272
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Hossain, Muhammad M; Liu, Jason; Richardson, Jason R (2017) Pyrethroid Insecticides Directly Activate Microglia Through Interaction With Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels. Toxicol Sci 155:112-123

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