CD4+ T‐cell Transcription Factors in Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and Parkinson's Disease

• Published in: Movement disorders Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 225 - 229
• Main Authors: De Francesco, Erika, Terzaghi, Michele, Storelli, Elisa, Magistrelli, Luca, Comi, Cristoforo, Legnaro, Massimiliano, Mauri, Marco, Marino, Franca, Versino, Maurizio, Cosentino, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.01.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Behavior disorders; CD4 antigen; CD4+ T lymphocytes; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Eye movements; Foxp3 protein; GATA-3 protein; Gene expression; Humans; idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Movement disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Parkinson Disease - complications; Parkinson Disease - genetics; Parkinson's disease; REM sleep; REM Sleep Behavior Disorder - genetics; Risk factors; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Stat1 protein; Stat3 protein; Stat4 protein; Stat6 protein; TCF Transcription Factors; Transcription factors; CD4+ T lymphocytes; idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder; Parkinson's disease; transcription factors; gene expression
• ISSN: 0885-3185; 1531-8257; 1531-8257
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.28137

Background CD4+ T‐cell dysregulation occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, it is unknown whether it contributes to PD development. The objective of this study was to investigate transcription factor gene expression in CD4+ T cells in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, the strongest risk factor for prodromal PD. Methods Expression of transcription factors (TBX21, STAT1, STAT3, STAT4, STAT6, RORC, GATA3, FOXP3, and NR4A2) was measured in CD4+ T cells from 33 polysomnographically confirmed idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder subjects and compared with expression in cells from matched healthy subjects and antiparkinson drugs‐naive PD patients. Results Compared with healthy subjects, idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder subjects and PD patients had lower TBX21, STAT3, and STAT4, and higher FOXP3 expression. TBX21 expression discriminated healthy subjects from idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder subjects and PD patients, but not idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder subjects with PD. Conclusions In idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder subjects CD4+ T cells exhibit a peculiar molecular signature strongly resembling cells from PD patients, suggesting early involvement of peripheral immunity in PD. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society