Some cases of Parkinson's disease are associated with disorders of the protein PINK1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1) but up till now, the effects of this dysfunction on the brain were not understood. Scientists in the Neurogenetics Laboratory at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) and the Department of Neurology at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra have discovered that alterations in the PINK1 protein, are accompanied by  the production of Lewy bodies in the brain. These are found in the brains of animals with Parkinson's disease, and are made up of fibrillary deposits of abnormal proteins. This study, carried out in cooperation with the Institut de Neuropatologia at the Hospital de Bellvitge (Hospitalet del Llobregat) and the Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria),  has been published in the prestigious international journal Brain. The authors are Lluís Samaranch, Oswaldo Lorenzo-Betancor, José M. Arbelo, Isidre Ferrer, Elena Lorenzo, Jaione Irigoyen, María A. Pastor, Carmen Marrero, Concepción Isla, Joanna Herrera-Henríquez and Pau Pastor.

The researchers used immunohistochemistry techniques with anti--sinuclein antibodies to visualize the Lewy bodies in the brain.  "Now we know what happens in the brain when the PINK1 protein is affected. In concrete, this may trigger the autophagy cascade, increase mitochondrial dysfunction and encourage the depositing of -sinuclein in the form of Lewy bodies", suggests Dr. Pau Pastor, who is head of the Neurogenetics Laboratory at CIMA, a neurologist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and leader of the project.

In his opinion, "the fact that the brain deposits produced by the malfunctioning of this protein are similar to those that are generally associated with Parkinson's disease suggests that treatment which maintains proper PINK1 functioning could be useful in combatting this neurodegenerative disease. I would particularly like to emphasize the  work done by all the co-authors of this study, particularly that of young researchers Lluís Samaranch and Oswaldo Lorenzo-Betancor. This study shows that it is possible for Spanish research groups to work together as a team, and is evidence of the potential that science has in our country to produce important results".