Novel insight into PINK1/parkin-associated autophagy implicated in Parkinson disease.

Abstract

Parkinson disease (PD) and its variants pose a dramatic burden on patients, families and society. Deciphering the mechanistic underpinnings of PD are critical goals of researchers to develop new therapeutic approaches. Among the pathways affected, autophagy draws increasing attention owing to its relationship to several genes implicated in PD and parkinsonism. This review summarizes novel insight into autophagic and in particular mitophagic processes regulated by parkin and PINK1, and how their deregulation may contribute to or cause the disease.