Upregulation of autophagy-related gene 5 protects dopaminergic neurons in a zebrafish model of Parkinson's disease [Neurobiology]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most epidemic neurodegenerative diseases, and is characterized by movement disorders arising from loss of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons. Recently, the relationship between PD and autophagy has received considerable attention, but information about the mechanisms involved is lacking. Here, we report that autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) is potentially important in protecting dopaminergic neurons in a 1-methyl-4phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model in zebrafish. Using analyses of zebarfish swimming behavior, in situ hybridizatiton, immunofluorescence and expressions of genes and proteins related to PD and autophagy, we found that ATG5 expression level was decreased and autophagy flux was blocked in this model. The ATG5 down-regulation led to the upgrade of PDassociated proteins, such as β-synuclein, Parkin, and PINK1, aggravation of MPTP-induced PDmimicking pathological locomotor behavior, DA neuron loss labelled by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or dopamine transporter (DAT), and blocked autophagy flux in the zebrafish model. ATG5 overexpression alleviated or reversed these PD pathological features, rescued DA neuron cells as indicated by elevated TH /DAT levels, and restored autophagy flux. The role of ATG5 in protecting DA neurons was confirmed by expression of the human atg5 gene in the zebrafish model. Our findings reveal that ATG5 has a role in neuroprotection, and upregulation of ATG5 may serve as a goal in the development of drugs for PD prevention and management.

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