Papers of the Week

Pain is one of non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease (PD) that significantly impacts on patients’ quality of life and increases the risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The mechanisms underlying pain in PD are poorly understood and the classic pharmacological treatments supplying to dopamine depletion have limited therapeutic effects on this symptom. It has been demonstrated that short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a key role in several central nervous system diseases including PD; low serum and faecal levels of SCFAs have been described in PD patients. Among SCFAs, the gut microbial metabolite butyrate has a neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effect, influencing neurological and behavioural processes. Using a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) induced-PD mouse model, we evaluated the effects of sodium butyrate (BuNa) treatment on pain and mood-related behaviour, exporing the role of PPARs, opioid and endocannabinoid systems. Our results demonstrated that repeated BuNa treatment (100 mg/kg po) in PD-mice reduced pain hypersensitivity as well as depressive- and anxiety-lke behaviour both on day 7 and day 14 after 6-OHDA injection. Moreover, AM281(CB1R antagonist), GW6471 (PPAR-alpha antagonist), and naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist), reduced BuNa efficacy. Finally, BuNa treatment was associated with a significant reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines at spinal and supraspinal levels. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that increasing endogenous butyrate concentration reduces PD comorbidities such as pain and psychiatric symptoms, restoring opioidergic and endocannabinergic pathways.