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Original Contribution: Ajit Kumar; Susan M. Calne; Michael Schulzer; Edwin Mak; Zbigniew Wszolek; Chris Van Netten; Joseph K. C. Tsui; A. Jon Stoessl; Donald B. Calne Clustering of Parkinson Disease: Shared Cause or Coincidence? Arch Neurol 2004; 61: 1057-1060 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Endotoxin as a Cause of Parkinson Disease

John H. Lange and Ines Niehaus   (13 August 2004)

Endotoxin as a Cause of Parkinson Disease 13 August 2004
John H. Lange and Ines Niehaus, - Envirosafe Training and Consultants Send reply to journal: Re: Endotoxin as a Cause of Parkinson Disease john.pam.lange{at}worldnet.att.net John H. Lange and Ines Niehaus	Kumar et al (1) reported on clustering of Parkinson disease (PD) cases and suggested several environmental factors as potential etiological agents for causation. Agents discussed including the chemical MPTP, pesticides, and viruses. As the authors mentioned, there appears to be some relationship between certain genetic factors and occupational groups (ie, teachers, medical workers, logger and miners) as well as geographic location (ie, rural) (2) for the occurrence of PD. We (3,4) previously suggested that endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) is an agent of interest in the causation of PD. This supported by experimental studies (5) and a case report (6). Those living in the rural environmental and employed in the agricultural industries (eg, logging, farming) often experience elevated exposure to endotoxin (7,8). We would like readers to be aware that endotoxin is a potential environmental agent of PD and has only recently been considered. References 1. Kumar A, Calne SM, Schulzer M, et al. Clustering of Parkinson disease: shared cause or coincidence? Arch Neurol 2004;61:1057-60. 2. Gorell JM, Johnson CC, Rybicki BA, Peterson EL, Richardson RJ. The risk of Parkinson’s disease with exposure to pesticides, farming, well water and rural living. Neurology 1998;50:1346-50. 3. Niehaus I, Lange JH. Endotoxin – is it an environmental factor in the cause of Parkinson’s Disease. Occup Environ Med 2003;60:378. 4. Lange JH, Niehaus I, Thomulka KW. Is endotoxin an environmental cause of Parkinson’s disease? Neuroepidemiology 2003;22:313. 5. Castano A, Herrera AJ, Cano J, Machado A. The degenerative effect of a single intranigral injection of LPS on the dopaminergic system is prevented by dexamethasone and not mimicked by rh-TNF-á, IL-1â and IFN-ã. J Neurochem 2002;81:150-57. 6. Niehaus I. Lipopolysaccharides induce inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra and cerebral cortex (a case report). Hanin I, Fisher A, Cacabelos R, New Trends in Alzheimer and Parkinson Related Disorders, Bologna, Monduzzi Editore, 2004. 7. Rylander R. Endotoxin in the environment - exposure and effects. J Endotoxin Res 2002;8:241-252. 8. Lange JH. Reduced cancer rates in agricultural workers: a benefit of environmental and occupational endotoxin exposure. Medical Hypotheses 2000; 55:383-385. This letter was shown to Dr Calne, who declined to reply. --ED