The PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) protein is generally not a health threat. In fact, it is considered important because it regulates cellular energy use in the brain. However, new research has shown that in some cases of Parkinson’s disease, the immune system mistakenly identifies PINK1 as an enemy, attacking brain cells that express this protein.
According to a study conducted by a team of scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California, the damage associated with PINK1 caused by T-cells of the immune system is significantly more common and aggressive in the brains of men than in women.
“The differences in T-cell responses based on sex were very, very striking. This immune response may explain why we observe sex differences in Parkinson’s disease,” noted immunologist Alessandro Sette, a co-author of the study.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive brain disorder. Patients experience motor and speech disturbances, constant muscle stiffness, resting tremors, and mental health issues.
How Was the Study Conducted?
Using blood samples from patients with Parkinson’s disease, the team examined the T-cell response in the blood to various proteins previously linked to the disease. The researchers found that PINK1 was the most prominently expressed, as reported by Science Alert.
In male patients with Parkinson’s disease, the research group observed a sixfold increase in T-cells targeting brain cells marked by PINK1 compared to healthy brains. In female patients with Parkinson’s disease, there was only a 0.7-fold increase.
Some participants in the study had previously noted that a similar phenomenon occurs with T-cells and the protein alpha-synuclein. However, these responses were not uniform across all Parkinson’s patients, prompting the search for more antigens—substances that trigger immune reactions.
As is often the case with studies of this nature, as experts learn more about the onset and progression of the disease, this work has opened new avenues for exploring treatment methods.
“Now that we understand why these cells attack the brain, we could develop treatments that block these T-cells,” said immunologist Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, another co-author of the study.
Further detection of T-cells sensitive to PINK1 in blood samples may aid in the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.