Inflammatory gut as a pathologic and therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Gut-Brain Axis as a PD Pathologic Source and Therapeutic Target. The PD murine model of α-synuclein overexpression at around 8 weeks of age manifests gut dysbiosis, characterized by inflammation-specific microbiota and cytokines, which can trigger brain neurodegeneration, especially dopaminergic depletion reminiscent of PD pathology. Targeting the dysbiotic gut via intravenous hUCB stem cell transplantation can render gut homeostasis and sequester peripheral as well as central inflammation, leading to brain repair and amelioration of PD behavioral and histological deficits.