Diverting cells' energy pathway could pave way for new Parkinson's treatments

Scientists from the University of Sheffield have found that switching or boosting the energy source of matured cells in Parkinson's disease patients, could pave the way for new treatments.

As human cells mature, they seek energy from mitochondria—the cells' batteries—which are known to be defective in people with Parkinson's disease. The new research, funded by Parkinson's UK, has found that directing cells to get energy from other sources, or boosting mitochondria function, could help to prevent or delay effects of the neurodegenerative disease.

The findings, published today (Wednesday 23 September 2020) in Scientific Reports, have given scientists a better understanding of mitochondrial function and further research will now look to identify ways to divert the cell's energy pathway to mitigate the effect of the parkin mutation which is present in people with Parkinson's.

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, with approximately 10 million people affected worldwide. Currently, only symptomatic treatment options are available to patients.

Dr. Heather Mortiboys, Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield's Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) and Senior Research Fellow for Parkinson's UK, explains: "Mitochondria are the cell batteries and are known to be defective in Parkinson's. Our study has found, for the first time, that mitochondrial defects are only revealed when neurons mature and are reliant on their mitochondria to power them.

"Parkin is involved in recycling dysfunctional mitochondria in the cell, so if parkin doesn't work properly, dysfunctional mitochondria are not efficiently cleared. This study has shown this is only the case if the cells rely on the mitochondria for their energy supply, in cells which can use other energy generating pathways, dysfunctional mitochondria are recycled via alternative pathways.

"This has implications for how easily different pathways can generate the energy the cell needs, and importantly the recycling of defective mitochondria."

In this study scientists used cells taken from Parkinson's patients with a mutation in the parkin gene to generate the type of brain cells affected in the disease—the dopaminergic neuron. The research found that a switch as the neurons mature shifts the energy status of the cell towards mitochondria which means that parkin mutant cells then struggle to maintain energy levels.

This research could pave the way for new Parkinson's treatments in the future as it has shown several alterations to mitochondrial function in patient derived neurons are possible.

The study provides evidence that small molecules already in clinical trials for other conditions may be beneficial in Parkinson's research. Researchers have shown that compounds targeted at mitochondrial diseases are effective at restoring the oxidative balance of the neurons without restoring full mitochondrial function.

Future research will test compounds affecting several steps of the mitochondrial pathways identified here in these and other patient derived cells.

Claire Bale, Head of Research at Parkinson's UK, said: "We're delighted to be supporting this promising, groundbreaking research.

"This study adds a new layer to our understanding of what goes wrong inside brain cells in Parkinson's and could lay the foundations for developing new treatments.

"We're working with Dr. Mortiboys through our pioneering Virtual Biotech program to create new treatments targeting mitochondria which could slow or stop Parkinson's—something no currently known treatment can do."

The research forms part of the work of the University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, which aims to bring academics and scientists together from across varied specialties to translate scientific discoveries from the lab into pioneering treatments that will benefit patients living with neurodegenerative disorders.