Title:Modelling Parkinson's Disease in C. elegans: Strengths and Limitations
Volume: 28
Issue: 37
Author(s): Liang Ma, Xi Li, Chengyu Liu, Wanyao Yan, Jinlu Ma, Robert B. Petersen, Anlin Peng*Kun Huang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy,
The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,
Wuhan, China
Keywords:
C. elegans, Parkinson’s disease, animal model, neurotoxin-induced models, genetic models, pathological hallmarks, highthroughput screening.
Abstract: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor system and
progressively worsens with age. Current treatment options for PD mainly target symptoms, due to our limited
understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of PD. A variety of preclinical models have been developed
to study different aspects of the disease. The models have been used to elucidate the pathogenesis and for testing
new treatments. These models include cell models, non-mammalian models, rodent models, and non-human
primate models. Over the past few decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely adopted as a
model system due to its small size, transparent body, short generation time and life cycle, fully sequenced
genome, the tractability of genetic manipulation and suitability for large scale screening for disease modifiers.
Here, we review studies using C. elegans as a model for PD and highlight the strengths and limitations of the
C. elegans model. Various C. elegans PD models, including neurotoxin-induced models and genetic models,
are described in detail. Moreover, methodologies employed to investigate neurodegeneration and phenotypic
deficits in C. elegans are summarized.
