ECNP 2021 | A2A antagonist improves dopaminergic function and reduces neuroinflammation in a rodent model of PD

Kavya Prasad, PhD student, MSc, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, discusses an investigation into the potential of adenosine A2A-receptor antagonists as therapeutic alternatives to the standard approach on dopamine replacement for symptom amelioration in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Currently available dopaminergic treatments are often associated with complex motor side effects and thus, discovering alternative treatment strategies is an important line of research. Ms Prasad explains the rationale for testing A2A antagonists and describes the animal models used to investigate one such agent, KW6002. Chronic intraperitoneal KW6002 treatment in rats injected with 6-hydroxydopamine resulted in a significant improvement in motor abilities compared to control animals. Demonstrated by a significant decrease in the [11C]PBR28 uptake ratio and reduced number of Iba-1+ cells seen in post mortem analyses, KW6002 had a significant impact on neuroinflammation. Reduced dopaminergic neuron loss and enhanced dopaminergic function was also seen. This interview took place at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology congress 2021.