The Mas Receptor as a Future Perspective in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

The current review sheds light on the importance of the cerebral renin angiotensin system (RAS) in Parkinson’s disease (PD), as a neurodegenerative disorder. Local RAS has been identified in the nigrostriatal pathway and plays a pivotal role in the progression of PD via binding to the upregulated angiotensin II type-1 receptor (AT-1R). Activation of AT-1R induces an oxidative stress neuroinflammatory status that results in further deterioration of dopaminergic neurons. Mas receptor (MasR) together with AT-2R, are considered major components of RAS protective arm, which mediates actions opposing AT-1R activation. Accordingly, angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2)/Angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7)/MasR axis has been emerged as a novel therapeutic target to ameliorate the devastating effects of Ang II/AT-1R cue in a 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA) lesioned PD model. Stimulation of MasR via its physiological ligand Ang 1-7 attenuated 6-OHDA induced neurotoxicity as evidenced by the improved motor performance and coordination along with the preservation of the dopaminergic neurons. Via enhanced MasR/PI3K/Akt/ CREB/BDNF/TrKB neurogenesis cascade, besides both antioxidants and anti-inflammation mechanisms, Ang 1-7 proved its therapeutic benefits in PD, partly through MasR, to open up a new avenue for treatment.