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Background: Neuromelanin is mostly located in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta, and can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a promising imaging-base biomarker for neurological diseases. We previously developed a melanin-specific probe N-(2-(diethylamino)-ethyl)-18F-5-fluoropicolinamide (18F-P3BZA), which was initially developed for the imaging of melanoma. 18F-P3BZA exhibited high levels of binding to the melanin in vitro and in vivo with high retention and favorable pharmacokinetics. In this study we further investigated whether 18F-P3BZA could be used to quantitatively detect neuromelanin in the SN in healthy rhesus macaques. Results: 18F-P3BZA exhibited desired hydrophobicity with estimated log Know 5.08 and log D7.4 1.68. 18F-P3BZA readily crossed the blood-brain barrier with brain transport coefficients (Kin) of 40 ± 8 µL g-1s-1. 18F-P3BZA accumulated specifically in neuromelanotic PC12 cells, melanin-rich melanoma cells, and melanoma xenografts. Binding of 18F-P3BZA to B16F10 cells was much higher than to SKOV3 cells at 60 min (6.17 ± 0.53%IA and 0.24 ± 0.05%IA, respectively). In the biodistribution study, 18F-P3BZA had higher accumulation in B16F10 tumors (6.31 ± 0.99%IA/g) than in SKOV3 tumors (0.25 ± 0.09%IA/g). Meanwhile, 18F-P3BZA uptake in B16F10 tumors could be blocked by excess cold 19F-P3BZA (0.81 ± 0.02%IA/g, 88% inhibition, p < 0.05). PET/MRI 18F-P3BZA provided clear visualization of neuromelanin-rich SN at 30–60 min after injection in healthy macaques. The SN to cerebella ratios were 2.7 and 2.4 times higher at 30 and 60 min after injection. In in vitro autoradiography studies 18F-P3BZA exhibited high levels of binding to the SN, and almost no binding to surrounding midbrain tissues. Conclusion: 18F-P3BZA PET/MRI clearly images neuromelanin in the SN, and may assist in the early diagnosis of neurological diseases associated with abnormal neuromelanin expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Susceptibility map weighted imaging (SMWI), based on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), allows accurate nigrosome-1 (N1) evaluation and has been used to develop Parkinson’s disease (PD) deep learning (DL) classification algorithms. Neuromelanin-sensitive (NMS) MRI could improve automated quantitative N1 analysis by revealing neuromelanin content. This study aimed to compare classification performance of four approaches to PD diagnosis: (1) N1 quantitative “QSM-NMS” composite marker, (2) DL model for N1 morphological abnormality using SMWI (“Heuron IPD”), (3) DL model for N1 volume using SMWI (“Heuron NI”), and (4) N1 SMWI neuroradiological evaluation. Method: PD patients (n = 82; aged 65 ± 9 years; 68% male) and healthy-controls (n = 107; 66 ± 7 years; 48% male) underwent 3 T midbrain MRI with T2*-SWI multi-echo-GRE (for QSM and SMWI), and NMS-MRI. AUC was used to compare diagnostic performance. We tested for correlation of each imaging measure with clinical parameters (severity, duration and levodopa dosing) by Spearman-Rho or Kendall-Tao-Beta correlation. Results: Classification performance was excellent for the QSM-NMS composite marker (AUC = 0.94), N1 SMWI abnormality (AUC = 0.92), N1 SMWI volume (AUC = 0.90), and neuroradiologist (AUC = 0.98). Reasons for misclassification were right–left asymmetry, through-plane re-slicing, pulsation artefacts, and thin N1. In the two DL models, all 18/189 (9.5%) cases misclassified by Heuron IPD were controls with normal N1 volumes. We found significant correlation of the SN QSM-NMS composite measure with levodopa dosing (rho = −0.303, p = 0.006). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate excellent performance of a quantitative QSM-NMS marker and automated DL PD classification algorithms based on midbrain MRI, while suggesting potential further improvements. Clinical utility is supported but requires validation in earlier stage PD cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the structural alterations of the deep gray matter (DGM) in the basal ganglia circuitry of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with freezing of gait (FOG) using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI). Twenty-five (25) PD patients with FOG (PD-FOG), 22 PD patients without FOG (PD-nFOG), and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent 3-dimensional multi-echo gradient recalled echo and NM-MRI scanning. The mean volume and susceptibility of the DGM on QSM data and the relative contrast (NM RC-SNpc) and volume (NM volume-SNpc) of the substantia nigra pars compacta on NM-MRI were analyzed among groups. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the associations of FOG severity with MRI measurements and disease stage. The PD-FOG group showed higher susceptibility in the bilateral caudal substantia nigra (SN) compared to the HC group. Both the PD-FOG and PD-nFOG groups showed lower volumes than the HC group in the bilateral caudate and putamen as determined from the QSM data. The NM volume-SNpc on NM-MRI in the PD-FOG group was significantly lower than in the HC and PD-nFOG groups. Both the PD-FOG and PD-nFOG groups showed significantly decreased NM RC-SNpc. The PD-FOG patients showed abnormal neostriatum atrophy, increases in iron deposition in the SN, and lower NM volume-SNpc. The structural alterations of the DGM in the basal ganglia circuits could lead to the abnormal output of the basal ganglia circuit to trigger the FOG in PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanin is a crucial pigment in melanomagenesis. Its fluorescence in human tissue is exceedingly weak but can be detected through advanced laser spectroscopy techniques. The spectral profile of melanin fluorescence distinctively varies among melanocytes, nevomelanocytes, and melanoma cells, with melanoma cells exhibiting a notably "red" fluorescence spectrum. This characteristic enables the diagnosis of melanoma both in vivo and in histological samples. Neuromelanin, a brain pigment akin to melanin, shares similar fluorescence properties. Its fluorescence can also be quantified with high spectral resolution using the same laser spectroscopic methods. Documented fluorescence spectra of neuromelanin in histological samples from the substantia nigra substantiate these findings. Our research reveals that the spectral behavior of neuromelanin fluorescence mirrors that of melanin in melanomas. This indicates that the typical red fluorescence is likely influenced by the microenvironment around (neuro)melanin, rather than by direct pigment interactions. Our ongoing studies aim to further explore this distinctive "red" fluorescence. We have observed this red fluorescence spectrum in post-mortem measurements of melanin in benign nevus. The characteristic red spectrum is also evident here (unlike the benign nevus in vivo), suggesting that hypoxia may contribute to this phenomenon. Given the central role of hypoxia in both melanoma development and treatment, as well as in fundamental Parkinson's disease mechanisms, this study discusses strategies aimed at reinforcing the hypothesis that red fluorescence from (neuro)melanin serves as an indicator of hypoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of automated tools for the segmentation and quantification of neuromelanin (NM) and iron in the nigrosome‐1 (N1). Existing tools evaluate the N1 sign, i.e., the presence or absence of the "swallow‐tail" in iron‐sensitive MRI, or globally analyze the MRI signal in an area containing the N1, without providing a volumetric delineation. Purpose: Present an automated method to segment the N1 and quantify differences in N1's NM and iron content between Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and healthy controls (HCs). Study whether N1 degeneration is clinically related to PD and could be used as a biomarker of the disease. Study Type: Prospective. Subjects: Seventy‐one PD (65.3 ± 10.3 years old, 34 female/37 male); 30 HC (62.7 ± 7.8 years old, 17 female/13 male). Field Strength/Sequence: 3 T Anatomical T1‐weighted MPRAGE, NM‐MRI T1‐weighted gradient with magnetization transfer, susceptibility‐weighted imaging (SWI). Assessment: N1 was automatically segmented in SWI images using a multi‐image atlas, populated with healthy N1 structures manually annotated by a neurologist. Relative NM and iron content were quantified and their diagnostic performance assessed and compared with the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The association between image parameters and clinically relevant variables was studied. Statistical Tests: Nonparametric tests were used (Mann–Whitney's U, chi‐square, and Friedman tests) at P = 0.05. Results: N1's relative NM content decreased and relative iron content increased in PD patients compared with HCs (NM‐CRHC = 22.55 ± 1.49; NM‐CRPD = 19.79 ± 1.92; NM‐nVolHC = 2.69 × 10−5 ± 1.02 × 10−5; NM‐nVolPD = 1.18 × 10−5 ± 0.96 × 10−5; Iron‐CRHC = 10.51 ± 2.64; Iron‐CRPD = 19.35 ± 7.88; Iron‐nVolHC = 0.72 × 10−5 ± 0.81 × 10−5; Iron‐nVolPD = 2.82 × 10−5 ± 2.04 × 10−5). Binary logistic regression analyses combining N1 and SNc image parameters yielded a top AUC = 0.955. Significant correlation was found between most N1 parameters and both disease duration (ρNM‐CR = −0.31; ρiron‐CR = 0.43; ρiron‐nVol = 0.46) and the motor status (ρNM‐nVol = −0.27; ρiron‐CR = 0.33; ρiron‐nVol = 0.28), suggesting NM reduction along with iron accumulation in N1 as the disease progresses. Data Conclusion: This method provides a fully automatic N1 segmentation, and the analyses performed reveal that N1 relative NM and iron quantification improves diagnostic performance and suggest a relative NM reduction along with a relative iron accumulation in N1 as the disease progresses. Evidence Level: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Neuromelanin is mostly located in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) pars compacta, and can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a promising imaging-base biomarker for neurological diseases. We previously developed a melanin-specific probe N-(2-(diethylamino)-ethyl)-18F-5-fluoropicolinamide (18F-P3BZA), which was initially developed for the imaging of melanoma. 18F-P3BZA exhibited high levels of binding to the melanin in vitro and in vivo with high retention and favorable pharmacokinetics. In this study we further investigated whether 18F-P3BZA could be used to quantitatively detect neuromelanin in the SN in healthy rhesus macaques. Results 18F-P3BZA exhibited desired hydrophobicity with estimated log Know 5.08 and log D7.4 1.68. 18F-P3BZA readily crossed the blood-brain barrier with brain transport coefficients (Kin) of 40 ± 8 µL g-1s-1. 18F-P3BZA accumulated specifically in neuromelanotic PC12 cells, melanin-rich melanoma cells, and melanoma xenografts. Binding of 18F-P3BZA to B16F10 cells was much higher than to SKOV3 cells at 60 min (6.17 ± 0.53%IA and 0.24 ± 0.05%IA, respectively). In the biodistribution study, 18F-P3BZA had higher accumulation in B16F10 tumors (6.31 ± 0.99%IA/g) than in SKOV3 tumors (0.25 ± 0.09%IA/g). Meanwhile, 18F-P3BZA uptake in B16F10 tumors could be blocked by excess cold 19F-P3BZA (0.81 ± 0.02%IA/g, 88% inhibition, p

Abstract Asymptomatic Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Gene (LRRK2) carriers are at risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied presymptomatic substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) regional neurodegeneration in asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers compared to idiopathic PD patients using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI technique (NM-MRI). Fifteen asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers, 22 idiopathic PD patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were scanned using NM-MRI. We computed volume and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) derived from the whole SNc and the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic SNc regions. An analysis of covariance was performed to explore the differences of whole and regional NM-MRI values among the groups while controlling the effect of age and sex. In whole SNc, LRRK2 had significantly lower CNR than HCs but non-significantly higher volume and CNR than PD patients, and PD patients significantly lower volume and CNR compared to HCs. Inside SNc regions, there were significant group effects for CNR in all regions and for volumes in the associative region, with a trend in the sensorimotor region but no significant changes in the limbic region. PD had reduced volume and CNR in all regions compared to HCs. Asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers showed globally decreased SNc volume and CNR suggesting early nigral neurodegeneration in these subjects at risk of developing PD.

One of the biggest problems in the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease is the lack of new drugs that slow its progression. L-Dopa remains the star drug in the treatment of this disease, although it induces severe side effects. The failure of clinical studies with new drugs depends on the use of preclinical models based on neurotoxins that do not represent what happens in the disease since they induce rapid and expansive neurodegeneration. We have recently proposed a single-neuron degeneration model for idiopathic Parkinson's disease that requires years to accumulate enough lost neurons for the onset of motor symptoms. This single-neuron degeneration model is based on the excessive formation of aminochrome during neuromelanin synthesis that surpass the neuroprotective action of the enzymes DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase M2-2, which prevent the neurotoxic effects of aminochrome. Although the neurotoxic effects of aminochrome do not have an expansive effect, a stereotaxic injection of this endogenous neurotoxin cannot be used to generate a preclinical model in an animal. Therefore, the aim of this review is to evaluate the strategies for pharmacologically increasing the expression of DT diaphorase and GSTM2-2 and molecules that induce the expression of vesicular monoamine transporter 2, such as pramipexole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Markers for treatment resistance in schizophrenia are needed to reduce delays in effective treatment. Nigrostriatal hyperdopaminergic function plays a critical role in the pathology of schizophrenia, yet antipsychotic nonresponders do not show increased dopamine function. Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI), which indirectly measures dopamine function in the substantia nigra, has potential as a noninvasive marker for nonresponders. Increased NM-MRI signal has been shown in psychosis, but has not yet been assessed in nonresponders. In this study, the authors investigated whether nonresponders show lower NM-MRI signal than responders. Methods: NM-MRI scans were acquired in 79 patients with first-episode psychosis and 20 matched healthy control subjects. Treatment response was assessed at a 6-month follow-up. An a priori voxel-wise analysis within the substantia nigra tested the relation between NM-MRI signal and treatment response in patients. Results: Fifteen patients were classified as nonresponders and 47 patients as responders. Seventeen patients were excluded, primarily because of medication nonadherence or change in diagnosis. Voxel-wise analysis revealed 297 significant voxels in the ventral tier of the substantia nigra that were negatively associated with treatment response. Nonresponders and healthy control subjects had significantly lower NM-MRI signal than responders. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that NM-MRI signal separated nonresponders with areas under the curve between 0.62 and 0.85. In addition, NM-MRI signal in patients did not change over 6 months. Conclusions: These findings provide further evidence for dopaminergic differences between medication responders and nonresponders and support the potential of NM-MRI as a clinically applicable marker for treatment resistance in schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skin–brain axis has been suggested to play a role in several pathophysiological conditions, including opioid addiction, Parkinson's disease and many others. Recent evidence suggests that pathways regulating skin pigmentation may directly and indirectly regulate behaviour. Conversely, CNS-driven neural and hormonal responses have been demonstrated to regulate pigmentation, e.g., under stress. Additionally, due to the shared neuroectodermal origins of the melanocytes and neurons in the CNS, certain CNS diseases may be linked to pigmentation-related changes due to common regulators, e.g., MC1R variations. Furthermore, the HPA analogue of the skin connects skin pigmentation to the endocrine system, thereby allowing the skin to index possible hormonal abnormalities visibly. In this review, insight is provided into skin pigment production and neuromelanin synthesis in the brain and recent findings are summarised on how signalling pathways in the skin, with a particular focus on pigmentation, are interconnected with the central nervous system. Thus, this review may supply a better understanding of the mechanism of several skin–brain associations in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a debilitating and potentially chronic eating disorder, characterized by low hedonic drive toward food, which has been linked with perturbations in both reward processing and dopaminergic activity. Neuromelanin‐sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging method to index midbrain neuromelanin—a by‐product of dopaminergic synthesis. The assessment of midbrain neuromelanin, and its association with AN psychopathology and reward‐related processes, may provide critical insights into reward circuit function in AN. Methods: This study will incorporate neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI into an existing study of appetitive conditioning in those with AN. Specifically, those with acute and underweight AN (N = 30), those with weight‐restored AN (N = 30), and age‐matched healthy controls (N = 30) will undergo clinical assessment of current and previous psychopathology, in addition to structural neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI, diffusion MRI, and functional MRI (fMRI) during appetitive conditioning. Conclusion: This study will be among the first to interrogate midbrain neuromelanin in AN—a disorder characterized by altered dopaminergic activity. Results will help establish whether abnormalities in the midbrain synthesis of dopamine are evident in those with AN and are associated with symptomatic behavior and reduced ability to experience pleasure and reward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asymptomatic Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Gene (LRRK2) carriers are at risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied presymptomatic substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) regional neurodegeneration in asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers compared to idiopathic PD patients using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI technique (NM-MRI). Fifteen asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers, 22 idiopathic PD patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were scanned using NM-MRI. We computed volume and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) derived from the whole SNc and the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic SNc regions. An analysis of covariance was performed to explore the differences of whole and regional NM-MRI values among the groups while controlling the effect of age and sex. In whole SNc, LRRK2 had significantly lower CNR than HCs but non-significantly higher volume and CNR than PD patients, and PD patients significantly lower volume and CNR compared to HCs. Inside SNc regions, there were significant group effects for CNR in all regions and for volumes in the associative region, with a trend in the sensorimotor region but no significant changes in the limbic region. PD had reduced volume and CNR in all regions compared to HCs. Asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers showed globally decreased SNc volume and CNR suggesting early nigral neurodegeneration in these subjects at risk of developing PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related irreversible neurodegenerative disease which is characterized as a progressively worsening involuntary movement disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Two main pathophysiological features of PD are the accumulation of inclusion bodies in the affected neurons and the predominant loss of neuromelanin-containing DA neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and noradrenergic (NE) neurons in locus coeruleus (LC). The inclusion bodies contain misfolded and aggregated a-synuclein (a-Syn) fibrils known as Lewy bodies. The etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of PD are complex, multi-dimensional and associated with a combination of environmental, genetic, and other age-related factors. Although individual factors associated with the pathogenic mechanisms of PD have been widely investigated, an integration of the findings to a unified causative mechanism has not been envisioned. Here we propose an integrated mechanism for the degeneration of DA neurons in SNpc and NE neurons in LC in PD, based on their unique high metabolic activity coupled elevated energy demand, using currently available experimental data. The proposed hypothetical mechanism is primarily based on the unique high metabolic activity coupled elevated energy demand of these neurons. We reason that the high vulnerability of a selective group of DA neurons in SNpc and NE neurons in LC in PD could be due to the cellular energy modulations. Such cellular energy modulations could induce dysregulation of DA and NE metabolism and perturbation of the redox active metal homeostasis (especially copper and iron) in these neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was performed to examine if catechol oxidation is higher in brains from patients with Parkinson's disease compared to age-matched controls, and if catechol oxidation increases with age. Brain tissue from Parkinson patients and age-matched controls was examined for oxidation of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) to corresponding quinones, by measurement of 5-S-cysteinyl-dopamine, 5-S-cysteinyl-DOPAC and 5-S-cysteinyl-DOPA. The cysteinyl catechols are assumed to be biomarkers for DA, DOPAC and DOPA autoxidation and part of the biosynthetic pathway of neuromelanin. The concentrations of the 5-S-cysteinyl catechols were lower, whereas the 5-S-cysteinyl-DA/DA and 5-S-cysteinyl-DOPAC/DOPAC ratios tended to be higher in the Parkinson group compared to controls, which was interpreted as a higher degree of oxidation. High 5-S-cysteinyl-DA/DA ratios were found in the substantia nigra of a sub-population of the Parkinson group. Based on 5-S-cysteinyl-DA/DA ratios, dopamine oxidation was found to increase statistically significantly with age in the caudate nucleus, and non-significantly in the substantia nigra. In conclusion, the occurrence of 5-S-cysteinyl-DA, 5-S-cysteinyl-DOPAC and 5-S-cysteinyl-DOPA was demonstrated in dopaminergic brain areas of humans, a tendency for higher oxidation of DA in the Parkinson group compared to controls was observed as well as a statistically significant increase in DA oxidation with age. Possibly, autoxidation of DA and other catechols are involved in both normal and pathological ageing of the brain. This study confirms one earlier but small study, as well as complements one study on non-PD cases and one study on both PD cases and controls on NM bound or integrated markers or catechols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core pathological event in Parkinson's disease (PD) is the specific dying of dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The reasons why SNc DA neurons are especially vulnerable and why idiopathic PD has only been found in humans are still puzzling. The two main underlying factors of SNc DA neuron vulnerability appear related to high DA production, namely (i) the toxic effects of cytoplasmic DA metabolism and (ii) continuous cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations in the absence of the Ca2+-buffer protein calbindin. Both factors cause oxidative stress by producing highly reactive quinones and increasing intra-mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations, respectively. High DA expression in human SNc DA neuron cell bodies is suggested by the abundant presence of the DA-derived pigment neuromelanin, which is not found in such abundance in other species and has been associated with toxicity at higher levels. The oxidative stress created by their DA production system, despite the fact that the SN does not use unusually high amounts of energy, explains why SNc DA neurons are sensitive to various genetic and environmental factors that create mitochondrial damage and thereby promote PD. Aging increases multiple risk factors for PD, and, to a large extent, PD is accelerated aging. To prevent PD neurodegeneration, possible approaches that are discussed here are (1) reducing cytoplasmic DA accumulation, (2) blocking cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations, and (3) providing bioenergetic support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruptions to dopamine and noradrenergic neurotransmission are noted in several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Neuromelanin-sensitive (NM)-MRI offers a non-invasive approach to visualize and quantify the structural and functional integrity of the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus. This method may aid in the diagnosis and quantification of longitudinal changes of disease and could provide a stratification tool for predicting treatment success of pharmacological interventions targeting the dopaminergic and noradrenergic systems. Given the growing clinical interest in NM-MRI, understanding the contrast mechanisms that generate this signal is crucial for appropriate interpretation of NM-MRI outcomes and for the continued development of quantitative MRI biomarkers that assess disease severity and progression. To date, most studies associate NM-MRI measurements to the content of the neuromelanin pigment and/or density of neuromelanin-containing neurons, while recent studies suggest that the main source of the NM-MRI contrast is not the presence of neuromelanin but the high-water content in the dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons. In this review, we consider the biological and physical basis for the NM-MRI contrast and discuss a wide range of interpretations of NM-MRI. We describe different acquisition and image processing approaches and discuss how these methods could be improved and standardized to facilitate large-scale multisite studies and translation into clinical use. We review the potential clinical applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders and the promise of NM-MRI as a biomarker of disease, and finally, we discuss the current limitations of NM-MRI that need to be addressed before this technique can be utilized as a biomarker and translated into clinical practice and offer suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the pattern of fractional dimension (FD) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and investigate the relationship between FD and the locus coeruleus (LC) signal intensity.A total of 27 patients with AD and 25 healthy controls (HC) were collected to estimate the pattern of fractional dimension (FD) and cortical thickness (CT) using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12), and statistically analyze between groups on a vertex level using statistical parametric mapping 12. In addition, they were examined by neuromelanin sensitive MRI(NM-MRI) technique to calculate the locus coeruleus signal contrast ratios (LC-CRs). Additionally, correlations between the pattern of FD and LC-CRs were further examined.Compared to HC, AD patients showed widespread lower CT and FD Furthermore, significant positive correlation was found between local fractional dimension (LFD) of the left rostral middle frontal cortex and LC-CRs. Results suggest lower cortical LFD is associated with LCCRs that may reflect a reduction due to broader neurodegenerative processes. This finding may highlight the potential utility for advanced measures of cortical complexity in assessing brain health and early identification of neurodegenerative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the locus coeruleus (LC) undergoes early and extensive neuronal loss, preceded by abnormal intracellular tau aggregation, decades before the onset of clinical disease. Neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI has been proposed as a method to image these changes during life. Surprisingly, human post‐mortem studies have not examined how changes in LC during the course of the disease relate to cerebral pathology following the loss of the LC projection to the cortex. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to examine markers for 4G8 (pan‐Aβ) and AT8 (ptau), LC integrity (neuromelanin, dopamine β‐hydroxylase [DβH], tyrosine hydroxylase [TH]) and microglia (Iba1, CD68, HLA‐DR) in the LC and related temporal lobe pathology of 59 post‐mortem brains grouped by disease severity determined by Braak stage (0‐II, III‐IV and V‐VI). The inflammatory environment was assessed using multiplex assays. Results: Changes in the LC with increasing Braak stage included increased neuronal loss (p < 0.001) and microglial Iba1 (p = 0.005) together with a reduction in neuromelanin (p < 0.001), DβH (p = 0.002) and TH (p = 0.041). Interestingly in LC, increased ptau and loss of neuromelanin were detected from Braak stage III‐IV (p = 0.001). At Braak stage V/VI, the inflammatory environment was different in the LC vs TL, highlighting the anatomical heterogeneity of the inflammatory response. Conclusions: Here, we report the first quantification of neuromelanin during the course of AD and its relationship to AD pathology and neuroinflammation in the TL. Our findings of neuromelanin loss early in AD and before the neuroinflammatory reaction support the use of neuromelanin‐MRI as a sensitive technique to identify early changes in AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a debilitating and potentially chronic eating disorder, characterized by low hedonic drive toward food, which has been linked with perturbations in both reward processing and dopaminergic activity. Neuromelanin‐sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging method to index midbrain neuromelanin—a by‐product of dopaminergic synthesis. The assessment of midbrain neuromelanin, and its association with AN psychopathology and reward‐related processes, may provide critical insights into reward circuit function in AN. Methods This study will incorporate neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI into an existing study of appetitive conditioning in those with AN. Specifically, those with acute and underweight AN (N = 30), those with weight‐restored AN (N = 30), and age‐matched healthy controls (N = 30) will undergo clinical assessment of current and previous psychopathology, in addition to structural neuromelanin‐sensitive MRI, diffusion MRI, and functional MRI (fMRI) during appetitive conditioning. Conclusion This study will be among the first to interrogate midbrain neuromelanin in AN—a disorder characterized by altered dopaminergic activity. Results will help establish whether abnormalities in the midbrain synthesis of dopamine are evident in those with AN and are associated with symptomatic behavior and reduced ability to experience pleasure and reward.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with the loss of neuromelanin (NM) and increased iron in the substantia nigra (SN). Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) is widely used for NM visualization but has limitations in brain coverage and scan time. This study aimed to develop a new approach called Proton-density Enhanced Neuromelanin Contrast in Low flip angle gradient echo (PENCIL) imaging to visualize NM in the SN. Methods: This study included 30 PD subjects and 50 healthy controls (HCs) scanned at 3T. PENCIL and MTC images were acquired. NM volume in the SN pars compacta (SNpc), normalized image contrast (Cnorm), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The change of NM volume in the SNpc with age was analyzed using the HC data. A group analysis compared differences between PD subjects and HCs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and area under the curve (AUC) calculations were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of NM volume and CNR in the SNpc. Results: PENCIL provided similar visualization and structural information of NM compared to MTC. In HCs, PENCIL showed higher NM volume in the SNpc than MTC, but this difference was not observed in PD subjects. PENCIL had higher CNR, while MTC had higher Cnorm. Both methods revealed a similar pattern of NM volume in SNpc changes with age. There were no significant differences in AUCs between NM volume in SNpc measured by PENCIL and MTC. Both methods exhibited comparable diagnostic performance in this regard. Conclusions: PENCIL imaging provided improved CNR compared to MTC and showed similar diagnostic performance for differentiating PD subjects from HCs. The major advantage is PENCIL has rapid whole-brain coverage and, when using STAGE imaging, offers a one-stop quantitative assessment of tissue properties.

The positive effect of levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, although it is limited in time and has severe side effects, has encouraged the scientific community to look for new drugs that can stop the neurodegenerative process or even regenerate the neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic nigrostriatal neurons. Successful preclinical studies with coenzyme Q10, mitoquinone, isradipine, nilotinib, TCH346, neurturin, zonisamide, deferiprone, prasinezumab, and cinpanemab prompted clinical trials. However, these failed and after more than 50 years levodopa continues to be the key drug in the treatment of the disease, despite its severe side effects after 4–6 years of chronic treatment. The lack of translated successful results obtained in preclinical investigations based on the use of neurotoxins that do not exist in the human body as new drugs for Parkinson’s disease treatment is a big problem. In our opinion, the cause of these failures lies in the experimental animal models involving neurotoxins that do not exist in the human body, such as 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine and 6-hydroxydopamine, that induce a very fast, massive and expansive neurodegenerative process, which contrasts with the extremely slow one of neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons. The exceedingly slow progress of the neurodegenerative process of the nigrostriatal neurons in idiopathic Parkinson’s patients is due to (i) a degenerative model in which the neurotoxic effect of an endogenous neurotoxin affects a single neuron, (ii) a neurotoxic event that is not expansive and (iii) the fact that the neurotoxin that triggers the neurodegenerative process is produced inside the neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons. The endogenous neurotoxin that fits this degenerative model involving one single neuron at a time is aminochrome, since it (i) is generated within neuromelanin-containing dopaminergic neurons, (ii) does not cause an expansive neurotoxic effect and (iii) triggers all the mechanisms involved in the neurodegenerative process of the nigrostriatal neurons in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. In conclusion, based on the hypothesis that the neurodegenerative process of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease corresponds to a single-neuron neurodegeneration model, we must search for molecules that increase the expression of the neuroprotective enzymes DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase M2-2. It has been observed that the activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 pathway is associated with the transcriptional activation of the DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase genes.

The article explores the potential use of neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) as a biomarker for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Treatment-resistant schizophrenia refers to patients who do not respond to initial antipsychotic medications. NM-MRI, which measures dopamine function, has shown promise in identifying nonresponders in previous studies. A recent study compared NM-MRI in responders and nonresponders to antipsychotic treatment and found significant differences in certain brain regions. However, the study has limitations, and more research is needed to confirm NM-MRI as a biomarker for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. [Extracted from the article]

Melanin is a crucial pigment in melanomagenesis. Its fluorescence in human tissue is exceedingly weak but can be detected through advanced laser spectroscopy techniques. The spectral profile of melanin fluorescence distinctively varies among melanocytes, nevomelanocytes, and melanoma cells, with melanoma cells exhibiting a notably “red” fluorescence spectrum. This characteristic enables the diagnosis of melanoma both in vivo and in histological samples. Neuromelanin, a brain pigment akin to melanin, shares similar fluorescence properties. Its fluorescence can also be quantified with high spectral resolution using the same laser spectroscopic methods. Documented fluorescence spectra of neuromelanin in histological samples from the substantia nigra substantiate these findings. Our research reveals that the spectral behavior of neuromelanin fluorescence mirrors that of melanin in melanomas. This indicates that the typical red fluorescence is likely influenced by the microenvironment around (neuro)melanin, rather than by direct pigment interactions. Our ongoing studies aim to further explore this distinctive “red” fluorescence. We have observed this red fluorescence spectrum in post-mortem measurements of melanin in benign nevus. The characteristic red spectrum is also evident here (unlike the benign nevus in vivo), suggesting that hypoxia may contribute to this phenomenon. Given the central role of hypoxia in both melanoma development and treatment, as well as in fundamental Parkinson’s disease mechanisms, this study discusses strategies aimed at reinforcing the hypothesis that red fluorescence from (neuro)melanin serves as an indicator of hypoxia.

Objectives: The co-occurrence of melanoma and Parkinson's disease (PD) is higher than expected. We review the relationship between melanoma and PD, then proffer a hypothesis of how dysregulated human tyrosinase could be involved in both diseases via the loss of dopamine and neuromelanin-positive neurons in PD and the genesis alterations in melanin content during melanoma. Key findings: There are a surprising number of links between skin disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Some risk factors related to the co-occurrence of PD and melanoma have been extensively investigated over the past 15 years. It has been proposed that human tyrosinase, an enzyme participating in the biosynthesis of neuromelanin in the brain and of melanin in the skin, plays a role. Abnormally dysregulated human tyrosinase impacts the genesis and progression of melanoma and PD. Summary: The dual role of human tyrosinase places it as the potential critical link between these seemingly distinct conditions. Detecting and monitoring human tyrosinase activity in the progression of melanoma and PD opens new opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment of both diseases. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This article examines the fascinating association between melanoma, a malignant skin cancer, and Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder. Both diseases involve cells that produce melanin, a pigment that provides skin color and protects against UV radiation. This study explores the potential impact of melanin synthesis on these diseases, considering the divergent roles of eumelanin and pheomelanin, melanin types present in both skin and brain cells. Additionally, it investigates the influence of PD treatments, such as L-DOPA, on melanoma risk, although the nature of this relationship remains uncertain. The research aims to provide insights into these intricate connections and their implications for the medical field. A common feature of Parkinson's disease (PD) and melanoma is their starting points being based on cells capable of converting tyrosine into melanin. Melanocytes produce two types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. These dyes are designed to protect epidermal cells from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Neurones of the substantia nigra, which degenerate during PD, produce neuromelanin, the physiological role of which is not fully explained. This article discusses the potential role of melanins in the pathogenesis of both diseases. Melanins, due to their ability to accumulate toxic substances, may become their sources over time. The use of glutathione for the synthesis of pheomelanins and neuromelanins may reduce the antioxidant capacity of cells, leading to an excessive synthesis of free radicals. This study also tested the hypothesis that certain drugs used in the treatment of PD (L-DOPA, MAO-B and COMT inhibitors, and amantadine), aimed at increasing dopamine concentration, could potentially contribute to the development of melanoma. The role and properties of melanins should continue to be researched. Whether excessive melanin synthesis or its accumulation in the extracellular space may be factors initiating the development of diseases remains an open question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI) has proven useful for diagnosing Parkinson's disease (PD) by showing reduced signals in the substantia nigra (SN) and locus coeruleus (LC), but requires a long scan time. The aim of this study was to assess the image quality and diagnostic performance of NM-MRI with a shortened scan time using a denoising approach with deep learning-based reconstruction (dDLR). Materials and methods: We enrolled 22 healthy volunteers, 22 non-PD patients and 22 patients with PD who underwent NM-MRI, and performed manual ROI-based analysis. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in ten healthy volunteers were compared among images with a number of excitations (NEX) of 1 (NEX1), NEX1 images with dDLR (NEX1 + dDLR) and 5-NEX images (NEX5). Acquisition times for NEX1 and NEX5 were 3 min 12 s and 15 min 58 s, respectively. Diagnostic performances using the contrast ratio (CR) of the SN (CR_SN) and LC (CR_LC) and those by visual assessment for differentiating PD from non-PD were also compared between NEX1 and NEX1 + dDLR. Results: Image quality analyses revealed that SNRs and CNRs of the SN and LC in NEX1 + dDLR were significantly higher than in NEX1, and comparable to those in NEX5. In diagnostic performance analysis, areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) using CR_SN and CR_LC of NEX1 + dDLR were 0.87 and 0.75, respectively, which had no significant difference with those of NEX1. Visual assessment showed improvement of diagnostic performance by applying dDLR. Conclusion: Image quality for NEX1 + dDLR was comparable to that of NEX5. dDLR has the potential to reduce scan time of NM-MRI without degrading image quality. Both 1-NEX NM-MRI with and without dDLR showed high AUCs for diagnosing PD by CR. The results of visual assessment suggest advantages of dDLR. Further tuning of dDLR would be expected to provide clinical merits in diagnosing PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition metal characteristics of iron allow it to play a fundamental role in several essential aspects of human life such as the transport of oxygen through hemoglobin or the transport of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain coupled to the synthesis of ATP. However, an excess or deficiency of iron is related to certain pathologies. The maintenance of iron homeostasis is essential to avoid certain pathologies related to iron excess or deficiency. The existence of iron deposits in postmortem tissues of Parkinson's patients has been interpreted as evidence that iron plays a fundamental role in the degenerative process of the nigrostriatal system in this disease. The use of iron chelators has been successful in the treatment of diseases such as transfusion-dependent thalassemia and pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration. However, a clinical study with the iron chelator deferiprone in patients with Parkinson's disease has not shown positive effects but rather worsened clinical symptoms. This suggests that iron may not play a role in the degenerative process of Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related irreversible neurodegenerative disease which is characterized as a progressively worsening involuntary movement disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Two main pathophysiological features of PD are the accumulation of inclusion bodies in the affected neurons and the predominant loss of neuromelanin-containing DA neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and noradrenergic (NE) neurons in locus coeruleus (LC). The inclusion bodies contain misfolded and aggregated α-synuclein (α-Syn) fibrils known as Lewy bodies. The etiology and pathogenic mechanisms of PD are complex, multi-dimensional and associated with a combination of environmental, genetic, and other age-related factors. Although individual factors associated with the pathogenic mechanisms of PD have been widely investigated, an integration of the findings to a unified causative mechanism has not been envisioned. Here we propose an integrated mechanism for the degeneration of DA neurons in SNpc and NE neurons in LC in PD, based on their unique high metabolic activity coupled elevated energy demand, using currently available experimental data. The proposed hypothetical mechanism is primarily based on the unique high metabolic activity coupled elevated energy demand of these neurons. We reason that the high vulnerability of a selective group of DA neurons in SNpc and NE neurons in LC in PD could be due to the cellular energy modulations. Such cellular energy modulations could induce dysregulation of DA and NE metabolism and perturbation of the redox active metal homeostasis (especially copper and iron) in these neurons.

Abstract Loss of neuromelanin in the midbrain is known in Parkinson’s disease(PD), which can now be directly detected by neuromelanin-sensitive MRI(NM-MRI). This case-control study was to investigate the distribution of neuromelanin in the substantia nigra(SN) and the locus coeruleus(LC) using NM-MRI technique and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic marker for PD. 10 early PD patients(H&Y stage I, II), 11 progressive PD patients(H&Y stage III-V), and 10 healthy controls matched in age and gender were recruited. All participants completed clinical and psychometric assessments as well as NM-MRI scans. Neuromelanin signal intensities in SN and LC were measured by contrast-to-noise ratios(CNRs) derived from NM-MRI scans. There were significant decreases of CNRs in SNpc(including anterior, central, and posterior) and LC in PD patients compared to controls. There were also significant differences of CNR between the left and right sides. CNR in LC had a negative correlation with the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale(NMSS) score in PD patients(|R|=0.49), whereas CNR in SNpc did not correlate with Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS) score(|R|

One of the biggest problems in the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease is the lack of new drugs that slow its progression. L-Dopa remains the star drug in the treatment of this disease, although it induces severe side effects. The failure of clinical studies with new drugs depends on the use of preclinical models based on neurotoxins that do not represent what happens in the disease since they induce rapid and expansive neurodegeneration. We have recently proposed a single-neuron degeneration model for idiopathic Parkinson’s disease that requires years to accumulate enough lost neurons for the onset of motor symptoms. This single-neuron degeneration model is based on the excessive formation of aminochrome during neuromelanin synthesis that surpass the neuroprotective action of the enzymes DT-diaphorase and glutathione transferase M2-2, which prevent the neurotoxic effects of aminochrome. Although the neurotoxic effects of aminochrome do not have an expansive effect, a stereotaxic injection of this endogenous neurotoxin cannot be used to generate a preclinical model in an animal. Therefore, the aim of this review is to evaluate the strategies for pharmacologically increasing the expression of DT diaphorase and GSTM2-2 and molecules that induce the expression of vesicular monoamine transporter 2, such as pramipexole.

The increasing number of MRI studies focused on prodromal Parkinson's Disease (PD) demonstrates a strong interest in identifying early biomarkers capable of monitoring neurodegeneration. In this systematic review, we present the latest information regarding the most promising MRI markers of neurodegeneration in relation to the most specific prodromal symptoms of PD, namely isolated rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). We reviewed structural, diffusion, functional, iron-sensitive, neuro-melanin-sensitive MRI, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies conducted between 2000 and 2023, which yielded a total of 77 relevant papers. Among these markers, iron and neuromelanin emerged as the most robust and promising indicators for early neurodegenerative processes in iRBD. Atrophy was observed in several regions, including the frontal and temporal cortices, limbic cortices, and basal ganglia, suggesting that neurodegenerative processes had been underway for some time. Diffusion and functional MRI produced heterogeneous yet intriguing results. Additionally, reduced glymphatic clearance function was reported. Technological advancements, such as the development of ultra-high field MRI, have enabled the exploration of minute anatomical structures and the detection of previously undetectable anomalies. The race to achieve early detection of neurodegeneration is well underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Dopamine; Tyrosine hydroxylase; Neuromelanin; Neuroprotection; Neurodegeneration; Neurotoxicity; DT-diaphorase; Glutathione transferase M2-2; VMAT-2; Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase EN Dopamine Tyrosine hydroxylase Neuromelanin Neuroprotection Neurodegeneration Neurotoxicity DT-diaphorase Glutathione transferase M2-2 VMAT-2 Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase 1 4 4 09/12/23 20231001 NES 231001 Commentary on: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-022-04574-x. However, the synthesis of neuromelanin requires the formation of three potentially neurotoxic ortho-quinones in a sequential manner (dopamine - > dopamine ortho-quinone - > aminochrome - > 5,6-indolequinone - > neuromelanin). Dopamine synthesis is catalyzed by TH which catalyzes the introduction of a hydroxyl group into the amino acid tyrosine which converts it to l-dopa, which is converted to dopamine by the enzyme aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). [Extracted from the article]

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) has several components including signaling peptides, enzymes, and membrane receptors. The effort in characterizing this system in the periphery has led to the approval of a class of antihypertensives. Much less is known about RAS in the central nervous system. The production of RAS peptides and the expression of several RAS enzymes and receptors in dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra has raised expectations in the therapy of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition characterized by lack of dopamine in the striatum, the motor control region of the mammalian brain. On the one hand, dopamine production requires reducing power. On the other hand, reducing power is required by mechanisms involved in REDOX homeostasis. This review focuses on the potential role of RAS in the regulation of neuronal/glial expression of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which produces the NADPH required for dopamine synthesis and for reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification. It is known that transgenic expression of the gene coding for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase prevents the death of dopaminergic nigral neurons. Signaling via angiotensin II G protein-coupled receptors, AT1 or AT2, leads to the activation of protein kinase A and/or protein kinase C that in turn can regulate glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase activity, by Ser/Thr phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events. Long-term effects of AT1 or AT2 receptor activation may also impact on the concentration of the enzyme via activation of transcription factors that participate in the regulation of gene expression in neurons (or glia). Future research is needed to determine how the system can be pharmacologically manipulated to increase the availability of NADPH to neurons degenerating in Parkinson's disease and to neuroprotective glia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Psychosis is related to neurochemical changes in deep-brain nuclei, particularly suggesting dopamine dysfunctions. We used an magnetic resonance imaging-based technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) to study these regions in psychosis. QSM quantifies magnetic susceptibility in the brain, which is associated with iron concentrations. Since iron is a cofactor in dopamine pathways and co-localizes with inhibitory neurons, differences in QSM could reflect changes in these processes. Methods We scanned 83 patients with first-episode psychosis and 64 healthy subjects. We reassessed 22 patients and 21 control subjects after 3 months. Mean susceptibility was measured in 6 deep-brain nuclei. Using linear mixed models, we analyzed the effect of case-control differences, region, age, gender, volume, framewise displacement (FD), treatment duration, dose, laterality, session, and psychotic symptoms on QSM. Results Patients showed a significant susceptibility reduction in the putamen and globus pallidus externa (GPe). Patients also showed a significant R2* reduction in GPe. Age, gender, FD, session, group, and region are significant predictor variables for QSM. Dose, treatment duration, and volume were not predictor variables of QSM. Conclusions Reduction in QSM and R2* suggests a decreased iron concentration in the GPe of patients. Susceptibility reduction in putamen cannot be associated with iron changes. Since changes observed in putamen and GPe were not associated with symptoms, dose, and treatment duration, we hypothesize that susceptibility may be a trait marker rather than a state marker, but this must be verified with long-term studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loss of neuromelanin in the midbrain is known in Parkinson's disease(PD), which can now be directly detected by neuromelanin-sensitive MRI(NM-MRI). This case-control study was to investigate the distribution of neuromelanin in the substantia nigra(SN) and the locus coeruleus(LC) using NM-MRI technique and evaluate its potential as a diagnostic marker for PD. 10 early PD patients(H&Y stage I, II), 11 progressive PD patients(H&Y stage III-V), and 10 healthy controls matched in age and gender were recruited. All participants completed clinical and psychometric assessments as well as NM-MRI scans. Neuromelanin signal intensities in SN and LC were measured by contrast-to-noise ratios(CNRs) derived from NM-MRI scans. There were significant decreases of CNRs in SNpc(including anterior, central, and posterior) and LC in PD patients compared to controls. There were also significant differences of CNR between the left and right sides. CNR in LC had a negative correlation with the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale(NMSS) score in PD patients(|R|=0.49), whereas CNR in SNpc did not correlate with Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale(UPDRS) score(|R|<0.3). The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves revealed that the CNR in LC had a high diagnostic specificity of 90.1% in progressive patients. This study provides new evidence for the asymmetric distribution of neuromelanin in SN and the LC of patients with PD. The neuromelanin loss is bilateral and more predominately in LC than that in SN. This distinct neuromelanin distribution pattern may offer a potential diagnostic marker and a potential neuropharmacological intervention target for PD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core pathological event in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the specific dying of dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). The reasons why SNc DA neurons are especially vulnerable and why idiopathic PD has only been found in humans are still puzzling. The two main underlying factors of SNc DA neuron vulnerability appear related to high DA production, namely (i) the toxic effects of cytoplasmic DA metabolism and (ii) continuous cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations in the absence of the Ca2+-buffer protein calbindin. Both factors cause oxidative stress by producing highly reactive quinones and increasing intra-mitochondrial Ca2+ concentrations, respectively. High DA expression in human SNc DA neuron cell bodies is suggested by the abundant presence of the DA-derived pigment neuromelanin, which is not found in such abundance in other species and has been associated with toxicity at higher levels. The oxidative stress created by their DA production system, despite the fact that the SN does not use unusually high amounts of energy, explains why SNc DA neurons are sensitive to various genetic and environmental factors that create mitochondrial damage and thereby promote PD. Aging increases multiple risk factors for PD, and, to a large extent, PD is accelerated aging. To prevent PD neurodegeneration, possible approaches that are discussed here are (1) reducing cytoplasmic DA accumulation, (2) blocking cytoplasmic Ca2+ oscillations, and (3) providing bioenergetic support.

Objectives: To investigate age-related neuromelanin signal variation and iron content changes in the subregions of substantia nigra (SN) using magnetization transfer contrast neuromelanin-sensitive multi-echo fast field echo sequence in a normal population. Methods: In this prospective study, 115 healthy volunteers between 20 and 86 years of age were recruited and scanned using 3.0-T MRI. We manually delineated neuromelanin accumulation and iron deposition regions in neuromelanin image and quantitative susceptibility mapping, respectively. We calculated the overlap region using the two measurements mentioned above. Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between volume, contrast ratio (CR), susceptibility of three subregions of SN, and age. Curve estimation models were used to find the best regression model. Results: CR increased with age (r = 0.379, p < 0.001; r = 0.371, p < 0.001), while volume showed an age-related decline (r = −0.559, p < 0.001; r = −0.410, p < 0.001) in the neuromelanin accumulation and overlap regions. Cubic polynomial regression analysis found a small increase in neuromelanin accumulation volume with age until 34, followed by a significant decrease until the 80 s (R2 = 0.358, p < 0.001). No significant correlations were found between susceptibility and age in any subregion. No correlation was found between CR and susceptibility in the overlap region. Conclusions: Our results indicated that CR increased with age, while volume showed an age-related decline in the overlap region. We further found that the neuromelanin accumulation region volume increased until the 30 s and decreased into the 80 s. This study may provide a reference for future neurodegenerative elucidations of substantia nigra. Key Points: • Our results define the regional changes in neuromelanin and iron in the substantia nigra with age in the normal population, especially in the overlap region. • The contrast ratio increased with age in the neuromelanin accumulation and overlap regions, and volume showed an age-related decline, while contrast ratio and volume do not affect each other indirectly. • The contrast ratio of hyperintense neuromelanin in the overlap region was unaffected by iron content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the description of some peculiar symptoms by James Parkinson in 1817, attempts have been made to define its cause or at least to enlighten the pathology of "Parkinson's disease (PD)." The vast majority of PD subtypes and most cases of sporadic PD share Lewy bodies (LBs) as a characteristic pathological hallmark. However, the processes underlying LBs generation and its causal triggers are still unknown. ɑ-Synuclein (ɑ-syn, encoded by the SNCA gene) is a major component of LBs, and SNCA missense mutations or duplications/triplications are causal for rare hereditary forms of PD. Thus, it is imperative to study ɑ-syn protein and its pathology, including oligomerization, fibril formation, aggregation, and spreading mechanisms. Furthermore, there are synergistic effects in the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of PD, and multiple factors—contributing with different ratios—appear to be causal pathological triggers and progression factors. For example, oxidative stress, reduced antioxidative capacity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and proteasomal disturbances have each been suggested to be causal for ɑ-syn fibril formation and aggregation and to contribute to neuroinflammation and neural cell death. Aging is also a major risk factor for PD. Iron, as well as neuromelanin (NM), show age-dependent increases, and iron is significantly increased in the Parkinsonian substantia nigra (SN). Iron-induced pathological mechanisms include changes of the molecular structure of ɑ-syn. However, more recent PD research demonstrates that (i) LBs are detected not only in dopaminergic neurons and glia but in various neurotransmitter systems, (ii) sympathetic nerve fibres degenerate first, and (iii) at least in "brain-first" cases dopaminergic deficiency is evident before pathology induced by iron and NM. These recent findings support that the ɑ-syn/LBs pathology as well as iron- and NM-induced pathology in "brain-first" cases are important facts of PD pathology and via their interaction potentiate the disease process in the SN. As such, multifactorial toxic processes posted on a personal genetic risk are assumed to be causal for the neurodegenerative processes underlying PD. Differences in ratios of multiple factors and their spatiotemporal development, and the fact that common triggers of PD are hard to identify, imply the existence of several phenotypical subtypes, which is supported by arguments from both the "bottom-up/dual-hit" and "brain-first" models. Therapeutic strategies are necessary to avoid single initiation triggers leading to PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dark pigment neuromelanin (NM) is abundant in cell bodies of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and norepinephrine (NE) neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) in the human brain. During the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD), together with the degeneration of the respective catecholamine (CA) neurons, the NM levels in the SN and LC markedly decrease. However, questions remain among others on how NM is associated with PD and how it is synthesized. The biosynthesis pathway of NM in the human brain has been controversial because the presence of tyrosinase in CA neurons in the SN and LC has been elusive. We propose the following NM synthesis pathway in these CA neurons: (1) Tyrosine is converted by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) to L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), which is converted by aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase to DA, which in LC neurons is converted by dopamine β-hydroxylase to NE; (2) DA or NE is autoxidized to dopamine quinone (DAQ) or norepinephrine quinone (NEQ); and (3) DAQ or NEQ is converted to eumelanic NM (euNM) and pheomelanic NM (pheoNM) in the absence and presence of cysteine, respectively. This process involves proteins as cysteine source and iron. We also discuss whether the NM amounts per neuromelanin-positive (NM+) CA neuron are higher in PD brain, whether NM quantitatively correlates with neurodegeneration, and whether an active lifestyle may reduce NM formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanin is among the most important natural pigments produced by various organisms, from microbes to plants and mammals. Melanins possess great properties such as radioprotective and antioxidant activity, heavy metal chelation and absorption of organic compounds. The biosynthesis of melanin through the DOPA metabolic pathway and/or the DHN pathway mainly involves the tyrosinase and laccase enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of phenolic and indolic substrates to form melanin classes, namely eumelanin, pheomelanin, allomelanins and pyomelanin. The cost-efficient production of melanin at a large scale, with a chemically specified composition, constitutes a major technical challenge. Alternative production routes including highly efficient microbial stains cultivated on renewable resources could sustain and up-scale melanin production capacity. The strategy of valorizing low-cost and abundant agro-industrial waste and byproduct streams complies with concepts of sustainable development and circular economy, thus eliminating the environmental footprint. Genetic engineering tools could substantially contribute to enhancing melanogenesis in natural producers via target gene overexpression and the recombination of novel strains. The production of biobased films for food packaging applications reinforced with melanin nanoparticles constitutes a market segment of high interest due to environmental and societal concerns around the end-of-life management of conventional plastics, gradual depletion of fossil resources, sustainability issues and high performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The locus coeruleus (LC) regulates attention via the release of norepinephrine (NE), with levels of tonic LC activity constraining the intensity of phasic LC responses. In the current fMRI study, we used isometric handgrip to modulate tonic LC-NE activity in older women and in young women with different hormone statuses during the time period immediately after the handgrip. During this post-handgrip time, an oddball detection task was used to probe how changes in tonic arousal influenced functional coordination between the LC and a right frontoparietal network that supports attentional selectivity. As expected, the frontoparietal network responded more to infrequent target and novel sounds than to frequent sounds. Across participants, greater LC-frontoparietal functional connectivity, pupil dilation, and faster oddball detection were all positively associated with LC MRI structural contrast from a neuromelanin-sensitive scan. Thus, LC structure was related to LC functional dynamics and attentional performance during the oddball task. We also found that handgrip influenced pupil and attentional processing during a subsequent oddball task. Handgrip decreased subsequent tonic pupil size, increased phasic pupil responses to oddball sounds, speeded oddball detection speed, and increased frontoparietal network activation, suggesting that inducing strong LC activity benefits attentional performance in the next few minutes, potentially due to reduced tonic LC activity. In addition, older women showed a similar benefit of handgrip on frontoparietal network activation as younger women, despite showing lower frontoparietal network activation overall. Together these findings suggest that a simple exercise may improve selective attention in healthy aging, at least for several minutes afterwards.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder clinically defined by motor instability, bradykinesia, and resting tremors. The clinical symptomatology is seen alongside pathologic changes, most notably the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the accumulation of α-synuclein and neuromelanin aggregates throughout numerous neural circuits. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been implicated as a risk factor for developing various neurodegenerative diseases, with the most compelling argument for the development of PD. Dopaminergic abnormalities, the accumulation of α-synuclein, and disruptions in neural homeostatic mechanisms, including but not limited to the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), are all present following TBI and are closely related to the pathologic changes seen in PD. Neuronal iron accumulation is discernable in degenerative and injured brain states, as is aquaporin-4 (APQ4). APQ4 is an essential mediator of synaptic plasticity in PD and regulates edematous states in the brain after TBI. Whether the cellular and parenchymal changes seen post-TBI directly cause neurodegenerative diseases such as PD is a point of considerable interest and debate; this review explores the vast array of neuroimmunological interactions and subsequent analogous changes that occur in TBI and PD. There is significant interest in exploring the validity of the relationship between TBI and PD, which is a focus of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute mild exercise has been observed to facilitate executive function and memory. A possible underlying mechanism of this is the upregulation of the ascending arousal system, including the catecholaminergic system originating from the locus coeruleus (LC). Prior work indicates that pupil diameter, as an indirect marker of the ascending arousal system, including the LC, increases even with very light-intensity exercise. However, it remains unclear whether the LC directly contributes to exercise-induced pupil-linked arousal. Here, we examined the involvement of the LC in the change in pupil dilation induced by very light-intensity exercise using pupillometry and neuromelanin imaging to assess the LC integrity. A sample of 21 young males performed 10 min of very light-intensity exercise, and we measured changes in the pupil diameters and psychological arousal levels induced by the exercise. Neuromelanin-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were also obtained. We observed that pupil diameter and psychological arousal levels increased during very light-intensity exercise, which is consistent with previous findings. Notably, the LC contrast, a marker of LC integrity, predicted the magnitude of pupil dilation and psychological arousal enhancement with exercise. These relationships suggest that the LC-catecholaminergic system is a potential a mechanism for pupil-linked arousal induced by very light-intensity exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition affecting more than 1% of people over 65 years old. It is characterized by the preferential degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, which is responsible for the motor symptoms of PD patients. The pathogenesis of this multifactorial disorder is still elusive, hampering the discovery of therapeutic strategies able to suppress the disease's progression. While redox alterations, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and neuroinflammation are clearly involved in PD pathology, how these processes lead to the preferential degeneration of dopaminergic neurons is still an unanswered question. In this context, the presence of dopamine itself within this neuronal population could represent a crucial determinant. In the present review, an attempt is made to link the aforementioned pathways to the oxidation chemistry of dopamine, leading to the formation of free radical species, reactive quinones and toxic metabolites, and sustaining a pathological vicious cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]