How T-cells influence microglia to form a feedback loop that accelerates disease progression in Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder characterized by extensive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway. Although several gene mutations and toxins are correlated with inherited and induced forms of PD, causes of initiation of sporadic PD remains debated. In this thesis I will give a general introduction of PD and an overview of the literature on PD initiation. However most importantly, I will give an overview of the recent literature discussing the involvement of the adaptive immune system on the progression of PD. Here we will specifically focus on the involvement of T-cells in the pathogenesis of PD. Also, possibilities to influence PD by inducing differential T-cell subtypes, such as Thelper1 cells, Thelper2 cells, and Tregulatory cells, will be discussed.