VCAM1-mediated regulation of dopaminergic neuron function in Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, striatal dopamine deficiency, and the accumulation of intracellular α-synuclein aggregates. This study employed induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology to generate dopaminergic neurons from somatic cells of both PD patients and healthy controls. The results demonstrate that patient-derived neurons show elevated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), which correlates with altered synaptic plasticity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired Rac1 and FAK2 signaling. These findings suggest that VCAM1 plays a pivotal role in PD pathogenesis, and may serve as a potential therapeutic target. [BMB Reports 2025; 58(5): 217-223].