MPTP/MPP＋诱导神经元凋亡的机制研究

1982年人们发现1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶（MPTP）能诱发PD,它的有效成分是1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子（MPP＋）。目前,MPTP/MPP＋广泛的被用作诱导PD实验模型的有效药物,可诱导神经元细胞发生凋亡性死亡。MPTP/MPP＋诱导细胞凋亡的机制牵涉Bcl-2、p53、caspase家族、JNK通路、ERK通路和PARP等多种机制,它们共同参与了MPTP/MPP＋诱导的细胞凋亡的调控和执行阶段。本文主要综述MPTP/MPP＋诱导的神经元细胞凋亡机制。     

MPTP帕金森病动物模型研究进展

用神经毒素1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)制备的动物模型,无论在神经生化和病理组织学特征,还是在运动行为表现方面都酷似人帕金森病(PD),是目前研究PD的理想模型。对MPTP动物模型发病机制等方面的深入研究将有助于PD的防治。     

MPTP对小鼠帕金森病造模条件探讨

目的观察不同剂量1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)对小鼠行为学及脑黑质酪氨酸羟化酶、纹状体多巴胺含量的影响,探讨MPTP致帕金森病(Parkinson′s disease,PD)样小鼠模型的最佳条件。方法C57BL小鼠分别给与MPTP不同剂量处理,测定各组小鼠爬竿时间检测动物运动协调性,应用免疫组化方法和高效液相法观察不同模型组多巴胺能神经元的变化。结果模型组各组均出现不同程度爬竿时间延长,酪氨酸羟化酶阳性细胞数减少和多巴胺含量减少。结论MPTP处理可造成小鼠的帕金森病样症状,在此种动物模型中,应根据科研目的选择MPTP的应用剂量和给药途径。     

CUL1基因对MPP+诱导的SH-SY5Y细胞存活和NLRP3炎症体通路的影响

摘要 目的：探究Cullin1（CUL1）基因对1-甲基-4-苯基吡啶离子（MPP+）诱导的SH-SY5Y细胞存活和核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域样受体3（NLRP3）炎症体通路的影响。方法：（1）将SH-SY5Y细胞分为NC组、NC-sh组、CUL1-sh组、NC-OE组和CUL1-OE组。使用Lipofectamine 2000试剂对细胞转染相应的慢病毒。（2）将SH-SY5Y细胞分为Control组、MPP+组和MPP++CUL1-OE组。MPP+组和MPP++CUL1-OE组细胞使用1 mmol/L的MPP+处理48 h,Control组细胞正常培养。通过MTT法检测细胞增殖,通过Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色法和TUNEL染色法检测细胞凋亡,通过qRT-PCR检测CUL1的mRNA水平,通过Western blot检测CUL1、NLRP3、凋亡相关斑点样蛋白（ASC）、cleaved caspase-1、白细胞介素（IL）-1β和IL-18蛋白水平。通过ELISA法检测细胞培养上清液中IL-1β和IL-18水平。结果：（1）与NC组和NC-sh组比较,CUL1-sh组CUL1的mRNA和蛋白相对表达量降低,相对细胞活力降低,Annexin V-FITC/PI阳性率和TUNEL阳性率升高,NLRP3、ASC、cleaved caspase-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白相对表达量以及细胞培养上清液中IL-1β和IL-18水平升高（P<0.05）。与NC组和NC-OE组比较,CUL1-OE组CUL1的mRNA和蛋白相对表达量升高,相对细胞活力升高,Annexin V-FITC/PI阳性率和TUNEL阳性率降低,NLRP3、ASC、cleaved caspase-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白相对表达量以及细胞培养上清液中IL-1β和IL-18水平降低（P<0.05）。（2）与Control组比较,MPP+组CUL1的mRNA和蛋白相对表达量降低,相对细胞活力降低,Annexin V-FITC/PI阳性率和TUNEL阳性率升高,NLRP3、ASC、cleaved caspase-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白相对表达量以及细胞培养上清液中IL-1β和IL-18水平升高（P<0.05）。与MPP+组比较,MPP++CUL1-OE组CUL1的mRNA和蛋白相对表达量升高,相对细胞活力升高,Annexin V-FITC/PI阳性率和TUNEL阳性率降低,NLRP3、ASC、cleaved caspase-1、IL-1β和IL-18蛋白相对表达量以及细胞培养上清液中IL-1β和IL-18水平降低（P<0.05）。结论：CUL1可能通过抑制NLRP3炎症体激活促进MPP+诱导的SH-SY5Y细胞存活。     

迷迭香酸对MPTP诱导的多巴胺神经元损伤的保护作用

多巴胺神经元损伤是PD发病的重要机制,本文利用1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(1-methyl-4-pheyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophridine,MPTP)诱导多巴胺神经元损伤,在诱导损伤前给予不同剂量迷迭香酸处理,采用细胞活性检测试剂盒(CCK-8)检测神经元的活性;活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)检测试剂盒检测神经元ROS水平;Western blot(WB)检测神经元凋亡相关蛋白caspase-3和cleaved caspase-3的表达,研究迷迭香酸(Rosemarinic acid,RA)对MPTP诱导的神经元损伤的保护作用及可能机制。结果显示,MPTP处理可使多巴胺神经元活力显著降低(P0.05),ROS水平和cleaved caspase-3表达显著升高(P0.01);迷迭香酸预处理(40μmol/L和20μmol/L)可逆转MPTP诱导的多巴胺神经元活力降低,抑制MPTP诱导的多巴胺神经元ROS和cleaved caspase-3升高(P0.05,P0.01)。迷迭香酸预处理对MPTP诱导的多巴胺神经元损伤具有保护作用,其机制可能与抑制ROS释放,阻止caspase-3异常激活有关。     

1-甲基-4-苯基-吡啶盐致多巴胺能细胞系MES23.5的死亡机制

通过测定环境毒素1-甲基-4-苯基-吡啶盐(MPP )作用于多巴胺能细胞系MES23．5后细胞存活率的变化及细胞线粒体膜电位(△ψM)、活性氧(ROS)、羟自由基、超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)的变化,发现MPP^ 作用于多巴胺能细胞系MES23．5,可导致细胞存活率显著性减少,浓度达到200mol／L以上后,细胞存活率的下降呈时间与MPP^ 浓度依赖;以200μmol/L MPP^ 作用细胞6∽48h后,△ψM逐渐下降、ROS、羟自由基逐渐增加,48h后SOD开始显著性减少。结果表明早期线粒体能量代谢障碍和膜电位变化导致ROS(尤其是羟自由基)含量增加是MPP^ 导致多巴胺能细胞氧化应激的原因,而细胞内自由基的清除机制受损,则最终导致细胞变性死亡。     

中脑多巴胺A9、A10神经元在MPTP损伤中敏感性的差异

自从科学家发现1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶（MPTP）选择性损伤中脑黑质致密区（A9）多巴胺神经元通路以来,用这种神经毒素诱导的帕金森病（PD）模型被广泛应用于PD的研究。然而同为DA能神经元的中脑一边缘一皮层的DA（A10）系统是否也遭到同样损伤呢？     

单侧帕金森病猴模型的行为、神经递质、多巴胺受体、病理及局部脑血流研究

经右侧颈总动脉注射甲基-苯基-四氢吡啶(MPTP)使猴产生左侧肢体动作减少、行动迟缓、震颤及向右侧缓慢旋转。应用美多巴和阿朴吗啡显著地改善单侧帕金森病(PD)症状,同时引起向左侧快速旋转,并呈明显的剂量依赖性;应用苯丙胺引起向右侧快速旋转。连续应用美多巴诱致单侧PD猴产生舞蹈手足徐动症。高效液相色谱测定显示右侧壳核、尾状核和黑质多巴胺(DA)含量显著降低。光镜发现右侧黑质神经元变性。SPECT活体显像发现病损侧纹状体D_2DA受体活性在病损初期无改变,病损严重时超敏,以及病损侧脑血流灌注减低。实验表明MPTP可建成理想的能形象地模拟人类PD的单侧PD猴模型。SPECT是活体研究PD病理生理的有效检测手段。     

甲基 - 苯基四氢吡啶对脑不对称小鼠纹状体内多巴胺和白介素含量的影响

为探讨甲基 - 苯基四氢吡啶 (MPTP) 注射后脑不对称小鼠纹状体内多巴胺降低程度,及纹状体内细胞因子水平变化, C57BL/6J 小鼠经过伸爪取食试验,筛选为反映脑不对称的左利鼠和右利鼠,并接受 25 mg/kg MPTP 腹腔注射连续 5 天,检测注射后的第 1 天,第 3 天和第 14 天纹状体内多巴胺及代谢物含量和细胞因子 IL-1 β、 IL-6 的动态水平 . 结果表明,无论在左利鼠还是右利鼠,纹状体内多巴胺含量在 MPTP 注射后每个检测时间点都显著降低,纹状体内 IL-1 β水平在第 1 天显著降低,纹状体内 IL-6 水平在 MPTP 注射后每个检测时间点也显著降低 . 实验结果同时表明,左利鼠和右利鼠 IL-1 β和 IL-6 的基础水平有显著不同 . MPTP 注射后,与右利小鼠相比,左利小鼠有较高的多巴胺翻转降低和较低的细胞因子表达,而且,纹状体内多巴胺水平与纹状体内 IL-6 水平呈正相关 . 这些结果提示, MPTP 诱导多巴胺丢失伴随着黑质纹状体系统内细胞因子水平的改变,而且,脑不对称有可能通过影响纹状体内细胞因子水平而进一步影响 MPTP 诱导的多巴胺降低的程度 .     

毕赤酵母表达的neurturin对恒河猴帕金森氏病模型中黑质多巴胺能神经元的保护作用

帕金森氏病(PD)是由于多巴胺能神经元变性、坏死,导致黑质-纹状体系统的多巴胺含量下降而引起的一种神经系统退行性疾病,目前还没有一种很好的方法能使之治愈.Neurturin（NTN）能特异地作用于中脑多巴胺能神经元,对该类神经元具营养和保护作用.经静脉注射1-甲基-4-苯基-1,2,3,6-四氢吡啶(MPTP)诱导恒河猴产生帕金森氏病模型,并在NTN治疗组,注射MPTP之前48 h脑室内注射重组毕赤酵母表达的人NTN 1 mg. 结果表明：模型组猴均逐渐出现了PD症状,而NTN治疗组猴,PD症状比较轻或不明显;荧光分光光度法测定MPTP模型组猴黑质、壳核和尾状核多巴胺（DA）、5-羟色胺（5-HT）和5-羟吲哚乙酸（5-HIAA）的含量结果与正常对照组相比均显著降低,NTN治疗组猴的黑质、壳核和尾状核中的DA、5-HT和5-HIAA与对照组相比无显著性差异,而与模型组相比,DA、5-HT和5-HIAA含量均明显增加;光镜检查MPTP模型组猴黑质神经元细胞明显脱失,而NTN治疗组猴黑质神经元细胞丢失不明显,与正常对照组猴无差别.上述结果表明,制备的重组人NTN在恒河猴体内能保护中脑黑质多巴胺能神经元不受MPTP的损伤,使其DA含量及多巴胺能神经元维持正常,在MPTP存在下没有发生PD症状.     

Effects of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine and 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Ion on Activities of the Enzymes in the Electron Transport System in Mouse Brain

The effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on activities of enzyme complexes in the electron transport system were studied using isolated mitochondrial preparations from C57BL/6J mouse brains. Both MPTP and MPP+ dose-dependently inhibited activity of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.5.3). The inhibition was reversible. Preincubation of freeze-thawed mitochondria with MPTP or MPP+ had no effect on the inhibition; however, when nonfrozen mitochondria were used, NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity was reduced to 46% of that in the nonincubated sample after a 5-min preincubation with MPTP and to 77% of that in the nonincubated sample after a 5-min preincubation with MPP+. Kinetic analyses revealed that inhibition of MPTP was noncompetitive and that of MPP+ uncompetitive with respect to NADH. On the other hand, inhibition of MPTP was uncompetitive and that of MPP+ noncompetitive with respect to ubiquinone. Succinate-ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex II), dihydroubiquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (complex III), and ferrocytochrome c-oxygen oxidoreductase (EC 1.9.3.1) activities were either slightly inhibited or not inhibited by MPTP or MPP+. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the mechanism of MPTP-induced neuronal degeneration.     

Accumulation of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine in Cultured Cerebellar Astrocytes

Cultured cerebellar astrocytes rapidly accumulate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) from the incubation medium, reaching a plateau within 10 min, whereas within that time negligible amounts of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) have entered the astrocytes. MPTP accumulation is essentially independent of temperature and is proportional to extracellular concentration at steady state: The steady-state concentration achieved within these cells is about 50-fold higher at relatively low extracellular concentrations. MPTP appears to accumulate intracellularly within lysosomes, because lysosomotropic agents such as ammonium chloride and chloroquine markedly diminish the accumulation. Moreover, a proton gradient is required, because MPTP accumulation is abolished by the hydrogen ion antiporter monensin. Over an interval of several days, MPTP is converted to MPP+ intracellularly, with a concomitant decrease in medium MPTP and increase in medium MPP+. A constant, small but significant amount of MPP+ is retained intracellularly over a 72-h interval. Increasing the medium MPTP concentrations results in increased conversion of MPTP and enhanced intracellular retention of MPTP and MPP+. Neither MPTP nor MPP+ is neurotoxic to cultured cerebellar astrocytes as determined by cell counts and rate of conversion of MPTP to MPP+.     

Effects of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,5,6-Tetrahydropyridine and Its Metabolite 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridine on Acetylcholine Synthesis in Synaptosomes from Rat Forebrain

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its metabolite, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP+), have been shown to cause a number of lesions in dopaminergic pathways of the nigro-striatal region of the brain. However, data on the effects of these neurotoxins on other aspects of brain metabolism are scarce. The data presented here show that MPTP and MPP+ inhibit glucose oxidation via the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and acetylcholine synthesis in synaptosomal preparations from rat forebrain. Monoamine oxidase B inhibitors (e.g., pargyline, MDL 72145) relieve the inhibition caused by MPTP but not MPP+. The inhibitory effects of MPP+ on glucose oxidation and acetylcholine synthesis are a consequence of the decreased glucose metabolism in synaptosomes and are consistent with its role as an inhibitor of the Complex I (NADH-CoQ reductase) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain.     

Effects of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl- 1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine and 1 -Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Ion on ATP Levels of Mouse Brain Synaptosomes

Mouse brain synaptosomes, essentially devoid of mitochondrial contamination, were used as a model to study the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its toxic metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) on the levels of ATP of neuronal terminals. Similar to known inhibitors of ATP synthesis, both MPTP and MPP+ caused a dramatic depletion of synaptosomal ATP. This depletion was dose dependent and occurred as a relatively early biochemical event in the absence of any apparent damage to synaptosomal membranes. MPP+ was more effective than its parent compound in decreasing ATP; it induced a significant loss at concentrations (10-100 microM) similar to those it reaches in the brain in vivo. MPTP-induced ATP depletion was completely prevented by the monoamine oxidase B inhibitor deprenyl, which, on the contrary, was ineffective against MPP+. As expected in view of the heterogeneous population of nerve terminals present in our synaptosomal preparations, the catecholamine uptake blocker mazindol did not significantly affect the ATP loss caused by both compounds. Data indicate that (1) administration of MPTP may cause a depletion of ATP within neuronal terminals resulting from the generation of MPP+, and (2) exposure to the levels of MPP+ reached in vivo may cause biochemical changes that are nonselective for dopaminergic terminals.     

Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents total body hydroxyl free radical and uric acid production induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in the rat

Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) is intimately involved in the transport of long chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane during oxidative phosphorylation. ALCAR also has been reported to attenuate the occurrence of parkinsonian symptoms associated with 1-methyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) in vivo, and protects in vitro against the toxicity of the neurotoxic 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) metabolite of MPTP. The mechanism for these protective effects remains unclear. ALCAR may attenuate hydroxyl (HO*) free radical production in the MPTP/MPP+ neurotoxic pathway through several mechanisms. Most studies on MPTP/MPP+ toxicity and protection by ALCAR have focused on in vivo brain chemistry and in vitro neuronal culture studies. The present study investigates the attenuative effects of ALCAR on whole body oxidative stress markers in the urine of rats treated with MPTP. In a first study, ALCAR totally prevented the MPTP-induced formation of HO* measured by salicylate radical trapping. In a second study, the production of uric acid after MPTP administration-a measure of oxidative stress mediated through xanthine oxidase-was also prevented by ALCAR. Because ALCAR is unlikely to be a potent radical scavenger, these studies suggest that ALCAR protects against MPTP/MPP+-mediated oxidative stress through other mechanisms. We speculate that ALCAR may operate through interference with organic cation transporters such as OCTN2 and/or carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT), based partly on the above findings and on semi-empirical electronic similarity calculations on ALCAR, MPP+, and two other substrates for these transporters.     

Comparison of the time courses of selective gene expression and dopaminergic depletion induced by MPP+ in MN9D cells

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons with unknown etiology. MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion) is the active metabolite of the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which induces Parkinson's-like symptoms in humans and animals. MPTP/MPP+ produces selective dopaminergic neuronal degeneration, therefore, these agents are commonly used to study the pathogenesis of PD. However, the mechanisms of their toxicity have not been fully elucidated. Recently, we reported in a microarray study using a midbrain-derived dopaminergic neuronal cell line, MN9D, that MPP+ induced significant changes in a number of genes known to be associated with the dopaminergic system. In this study, we investigated the expression time courses of six genes using real-time RT-PCR, and compared them with the progressive dopaminergic depletion caused by MPP+. Our data showed that dopamine content was significantly decreased after 0.5h of MPP+ (200 microM) exposure and was completely depleted after 40 h. The expression of Gpr37, which is closely related to the pathogenesis of autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism, was up-regulated after 0.5h, and stayed up-regulated up to 48 h. Txnip, which is critical to the adjustment of cellular redox status, was down-regulated after 1h and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. Ldh1 and Cdo1, which are also involved in oxidative stress, were down-regulated after 16 h and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. Two pro-apoptotic genes, Egln3 and Bnip3, were down-regulated after 2 and 4h, and stayed down-regulated up to 48 h. These findings suggested that the time course of expression for multiple genes correlated with the dopaminergic depletion; and MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in MN9D cells could be used as a model to further explore the roles of these and other genes in the pathogenesis and possible treatment of PD.     

Mechanism of Accumulation of the 1-methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium Species into Mouse Brain Synaptosomes

The mechanism of accumulation of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+), the toxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, into neuronal terminals was studied using mouse brain synaptosomes as an in vitro model. Addition of MPP+ to synaptosomal preparations, essentially devoid of contamination by extrasynaptosomal mitochondria, resulted in its time- and concentration-dependent accumulation. Intrasynaptosomal concentrations of 79 and 106 microM were reached 10 and 30 min, respectively, after addition of 50 microM MPP+. The accumulation of 50 microM MPP+ into synaptosomes was only slightly affected by the catecholamine uptake blockers mazindol and nomifensine; in contrast, it was markedly enhanced by tetraphenylborate, a lipophilic anion that increases the rate of accumulation of permeant cations via a Nernstian concentration gradient, MPP+ accumulation was significantly increased or decreased as a consequence of hyperpolarization or depolarization, respectively, of the plasma membrane of synaptosomes. This effect was evident after incubation for 10 min. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential also affected MPP+ accumulation, although only after 30 min of incubation. Data indicate that polarization of neuronal membranes may significantly contribute to the accumulation of MPP+ into nerve terminals.     

Inhibitors of Mitochondrial Respiration, Iron (II), and Hydroxyl Radical Evoke Release and Extracellular Hydrolysis of Glutathione in Rat Striatum and Substantia Nigra

In this investigation, microdialysis has been used to study the effects of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and the active metabolite of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), on extracellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (CySH) in the rat striatum and substantia nigra (SN). During perfusion of a neurotoxic concentration of MPP+ (2.5 mM) into the rat striatum or SN, extracellular concentrations of GSH and CySH remain at basal levels (both approximately 2 microM). However, when the perfusion is discontinued, a massive but transient release of GSH occurs, peaking at 5,000% of basal levels in the striatum and 2,000% of basal levels in the SN. The release of GSH is followed by a slightly delayed and smaller elevation of extracellular concentrations of CySH that can be blocked by the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) inhibitor acivicin. Low-molecular-weight iron and extracellular hydroxyl radical (OH*) have been implicated as participants in the mechanism underlying the dopaminergic neurotoxicity of MPTP/MPP+. During perfusion of Fe2+ (OH*) into the rat striatum and SN, extracellular levels of GSH also remain at basal levels. When perfusions of Fe2+ are discontinued, a massive transient release of GSH occurs followed by a delayed, small, but progressive elevation of extracellular CySH level that again can be blocked by acivicin. Previous investigators have noted that extracellular concentrations of the excitatory/excitotoxic amino acid glutamate increase dramatically when perfusions of neurotoxic concentrations of MPP+ are discontinued. This observation and the fact that MPTP/MPP+ causes the loss of nigrostriatal GSH without corresponding increases of glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and the results of the present investigation suggest that the release and gamma-GT/dipeptidase-mediated hydrolysis of GSH to glutamate, glycine, and CySH may be important factors involved with the degeneration of dopamine neurons. It is interesting that a very early event in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is a massive loss of GSH in the SN pars compacta that is not accompanied by corresponding increases of GSSG levels. Based on the results of this and prior investigations, a new hypothesis is proposed that might contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the degeneration of dopamine neurons evoked by MPTP/MPP+, other agents that impair neuronal energy metabolism, and Parkinson's disease.     

TRPC1 inhibits apoptotic cell degeneration induced by dopaminergic neurotoxin MPTP/MPP

Disturbances in Ca²⁺ homeostasis have been implicated in a variety of neuropathological conditions including Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the importance of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) channels in PD remains to be investigated. In the present study, we have scrutinized the significance of TRPC1 in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahyrdro-pyridine (MPTP)-induced PD using C57BL/6 animal model and PC12 cell culture model. Both sub-acute and sub-chronic treatments of MPTP significantly reduced TRPC1, and tyrosine hydroxylase levels, but not TRPC3, along with increased neuronal death. Furthermore, MPTP induces mitochondrial dysfunction, which was associated with reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased level of Bcl₂, Bcl-xl, and an altered Bcl-xl/Bax ratio thereby initiating apoptosis. Importantly, TRPC1 overexpression in PC12 cells showed significant protection against MPP⁺ induced neuronal apoptosis, which was attributed to the restoration of cytosolic Ca²⁺ and preventing loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Silencing of TRPC1 or addition of TRPC1 channel blockers decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas activation of TRPC1 restored mitochondrial membrane potential in cells overexpressing TRPC1. TRPC1 overexpression also inhibited Bax translocation to the mitochondria and thereby prevented cytochrome c release and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. Overall, these results provide compelling evidence for the role of TRPC1 in either onset/progression of PD and restoration of TRPC1 levels could limit neuronal degeneration in MPTP mediated PD.