Fibroblasts from skin biopsies as a tool for biomarker discovery in Parkinson׳s disease

Parkinson׳s disease (PD) is a complex disease and the current interest and focus of scientific research is both investigating the variety of causes that underlie PD pathogenesis, and identifying reliable biomarkers to diagnose and monitor the progression of pathology. Investigation on pathogenic mechanisms in peripheral cells, such as fibroblasts derived from patients with sporadic PD and age/gender matched controls, might generate deeper understanding of the deficits affecting dopaminergic neurons and, possibly, new tools applicable to clinical practice. The chronic and slow progressing nature of PD may result from subtle yet persistent alterations in biological mechanisms, which might be undetectable in basal, unchallenged conditions. Unlike body fluids, dermal fibroblasts can be exposed to different challenges while in culture and can therefore generate information about the dynamic cellular responses to exogenous stressors. These studies may ultimately generate indicators highlighting the biological defects intrinsic to PD. In fact, fibroblasts from idiopathic PD patients' exhibit deficits typically sustaining the neurodegenerative process of PD, such as increased susceptibility to rotenone as well as deficits in protein homeostasis and mitochondrial bioenergetics Fibroblasts therefore represent a powerful and minimally invasive tool to investigate PD pathogenic mechanisms, which might translate into considerable advances in clinical management of the disease.