Is a cure for Parkinson's disease hiding inside us?

Trends in biochemical sciences20229 citationsPMID: 35193796

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.02.001

Plain Language Summary

This commentary discusses whether a cure for Parkinson's disease might involve LL-37 and related endogenous peptides. The antimicrobial peptide's neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective properties are considered in the context of PD pathogenesis.

Abstract

α-Synuclein (a-syn) oligomers and fibrils are behind neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), but therapeutically targeting them is challenging. Amphipathic and cationic helical peptides inhibit amyloid formation and suppress neurotoxicity by selectively binding the solvent-accessible regions in these toxic species. Can endogenous peptides, like LL-37, constitute a new therapeutic paradigm in PD?

Authors

Santos, Jaime; Pallarès, Irantzu; Ventura, Salvador

Keywords

LL-37Parkinson’s diseaseamyloid fibrildisease-modifying therapyoligomerα-synuclein