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The inflammatory response in the MPTP model of Parkinson’s disease is mediated by brain angiotensin: relevance to progression of the disease

The neurotoxin MPTP reproduces most of the biochemical and pathological hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease. In addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated as a consequence of mitochondrial complex I inhibition, microglial NADPH‐derived ROS play major roles in the toxicity of MPTP. However, the exact mechanism regulating this microglial response remains to be clarified. The peptide angiotensin II (AII), via type 1 receptors (AT1), is one of the most important inflammation and oxidative stress inducers, and produces ROS by activation of the NADPH‐oxidase complex. Brain possesses a local angiotensin system, which modulates striatal dopamine (DA) release. However, it is not known if AII plays a major role in microglia‐derived oxidative stress and DA degeneration. The present study indicates that in primary mesencephalic cultures, DA degeneration induced by the neurotoxin MPTP/MPP+ is amplified by AII and inhibited by AT1 receptor antagonists, and that protein kinase C, NADPH‐complex activation and microglial activation are involved in this effect. In mice, AT1 receptor antagonists inhibited both DA degeneration and early microglial and NADPH activation. The brain angiotensin system may play a key role in the self‐propelling mechanism of Parkinson’s disease and constitutes an unexplored target for neuroprotection, as previously reported for vascular diseases.