A protein called Parkin, which protects nerve cells from stress and helps prevent Parkinson’s disease, may also play a role in tuberculosis infection, according to a study published in the Nature weekly.
They were conducted by scientists from the University of California in San Francisco (USA).
Parkin mutations contribute to the loss of nerve cells, which is why this protein has been at the center of interest for scientists studying Parkinson’s disease for some time. The Parkin gene stimulates the destruction of bacteria by the cells of the immune system, macrophages, and the polymorphism of the Parkin gene makes it more susceptible to tuberculosis.
Research author Dr Jeffery Cox observed how macrophages engulf and destroy foreign bacteria. The fight between tuberculosis bacilli and macrophages can be very fierce. However, in both mice and humans, Parkin played a key role in the elimination of intruders. It was further observed that modified mice lacking the Parkin gene died after being infected with Mycobacteria, whereas normal mice survived the infection.
The treatment of Parkinson’s disease under development could prove effective in combating tuberculosis. We are investigating the possibility of activating the Parkin protein with small molecule drugs, concludes Dr. Cox. (PAP)