Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor and cognitive dysfunctions. The progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons that are present in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) has been the main focus of study and PD therapies since ages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this manuscript, a systematic revision of experimental and clinical evidence of PD-associated cell process was conducted. RESULTS: Classically, the damage in the dopaminergic neuronal circuits of SNpc is favored by reactive oxidative/nitrosative stress, leading to cell death. Interestingly, the therapy for PD has only focused on avoiding the symptom progression but not in finding a complete reversion of the disease. Recent evidence suggests that the renin-angiotensin system imbalance and neuroinflammation are the main keys in the progression of experimental PD. CONCLUSION: The progression of neurodegeneration in SNpc is due to the complex interaction of multiple processes. In this review, we analyzed the main contribution of four cellular processes and discussed in the perspective of novel experimental approaches.