Evidence of Inflammatory System Involvement in Parkinson’s Disease

Figure 1

The paper is summarized in the schematic drawing. Genetic mutations and environmental exposures can selectively induce dopaminergic neuron loss in the SNc. The mechanism may involve both regional (microglia) and systematic (peripheral) immune dysregulation. The dysregulated immune system can either elicit or exacerbate dopaminergic neuron loss at SNc by direct contact or by overrelease of cytokines and other immune mediators and thus immune regulation may have great therapeutic potential in PD treatment.