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Old 11-10-2018, 01:53 AM
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kiwi33 kiwi33 is offline
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kiwi33 kiwi33 is offline
Grand Magnate
kiwi33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Sydney, Australia.
Posts: 3,093
8 yr Member
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It is annoying that the paper is behind a paywall.

What seems to be going on is that it is known that the tyrosine hydroxylase gene contains a CRE element. The CRE element binds a protein called CREB; this is what they showed is enhanced by aspirin. CREB is a transcription factor; it activates the tyrosine hydroxylase gene, leading to production of more tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the nigra and hence more L-DOPA there as in your scheme.

Whether this works in people as well as mice remains to be seen. Also, I don't know enough about the pharmacology of exogenous/therapeutic L-DOPA to know to what extent its transport into the brain is rate-limiting.

I wish I had known about this before. An uncle of mine (in NZ) died from PD. I would have suggested low-dose aspirin to him.
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"Thanks for this!" says:
johnt (11-10-2018)