Mitochondrial antigen presentation: a mechanism linking Parkinson's disease to autoimmunity

Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and afflicts millions of people world-wide. The current treatments address only the late motor symptoms, with no cure or preventive therapeutic approaches. The contribution of dysfunctional immune mechanisms in PD has been clearly established, with an emphasis on neuroinflammation and microglial cell activation. Recent studies have widened the involvement of the immune system in this disease by clearly showing the engagement of adaptive immunity and antigen presentation processes, directly regulated by PD-related proteins, raising the question whether PD is an autoimmune disease. The contribution of autoimmune mechanisms in PD opens novel avenues for the development of preventive therapeutic approaches.