Inhibition of Ras-guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 1 (Ras-GRF1) signaling in the striatum reverts motor symptoms associated with l-dopa–induced dyskinesia

S Fasano, E Bezard, A d'Antoni… - Proceedings of the …, 2010 - National Acad Sciences
S Fasano, E Bezard, A d'Antoni, V Francardo, M Indrigo, L Qin, S Doveró, M Cerovic
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010National Acad Sciences
l-dopa–induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common debilitating complication of dopamine
replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. Recent evidence suggests that LID may be
linked causally to a hyperactivation of the Ras–ERK signaling cascade in the basal ganglia.
We set out to determine whether specific targeting of Ras-guanine nucleotide-releasing
factor 1 (Ras-GRF1), a brain-specific activator of the Ras–ERK pathway, may provide a
therapy for LID. On the rodent abnormal involuntary movements scale, Ras-GRF1–deficient …
l-dopa–induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common debilitating complication of dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson's disease. Recent evidence suggests that LID may be linked causally to a hyperactivation of the Ras–ERK signaling cascade in the basal ganglia. We set out to determine whether specific targeting of Ras-guanine nucleotide-releasing factor 1 (Ras-GRF1), a brain-specific activator of the Ras–ERK pathway, may provide a therapy for LID. On the rodent abnormal involuntary movements scale, Ras-GRF1–deficient mice were significantly resistant to the development of dyskinesia during chronic l-dopa treatment. Furthermore, in a nonhuman primate model of LID, lentiviral vectors expressing dominant negative forms of Ras-GRF1 caused a dramatic reversion of dyskinesia severity leaving intact the therapeutic effect of l-dopa. These data reveal the central role of Ras-GRF1 in governing striatal adaptations to dopamine replacement therapy and validate a viable treatment for LID based on intracellular signaling modulation.
National Acad Sciences