Peripheral MC1R Activation Modulates Immune Responses and Is Neuroprotective in a Mouse Model of Parkinson's Disease

    December 2023 in “ Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology ”
    Pranay Srivastava, Shuhei Nishiyama, Fang Zhou, Sonia Lin, Akriti Srivastava, Chien‐Wen Su, Yuehang Xu, Weiyi Peng, Michaël Levy, Michael A. Schwarzschild, Xiqun Chen
    TLDR NDP-MSH protects brain cells and reduces inflammation in Parkinson's disease by activating MC1R and involving Tregs.
    The study investigates the effects of NDP-MSH, a synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist, on the immune system and dopaminergic neurons in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Systemic administration of NDP-MSH significantly reduced striatal dopamine depletion and dopaminergic neuron loss caused by MPTP and LPS, improved behavioral outcomes, and decreased neuroinflammation, as evidenced by reduced microglial activation and lower levels of TNF-α and IL1β. The neuroprotective effects of NDP-MSH appear to involve the MC1R pathway and are diminished when regulatory T cells (Tregs) are depleted, suggesting Tregs play a role in these effects.
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