Glucose promotes resistance in lymphocytes against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis through signaling and metabolic pathways. Implications for Parkinson’s disease

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurological disorder associated with the selective loss of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons. Clinical data suggest that oxidative stress (OS) and dysregulation of glucose (G) metabolism are early events in PD. However, no data are available to explain the molecular connection between glucose metabolism, OS, and neuronal demise in PD. Human lymphocytes share a similar dopaminergic signaling mechanism with DAergic neurons. Further, rotenone (ROT) is a mitochondrial complex I inhibitor that selectively induces apoptosis through OS in dopaminergic neurons and lymphocytes. Thus, to test the hypothesis that G metabolism and OS are linked in dopaminergic system toxicity and PD, human lymphocytes were cultured with ROT in the presence or absence of various concentrations of glucose.