| Lack of effective medication for slowing down progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) as a highly prevalent
neurodegenerative disorder requires novel avenues of scientific investigation to elucidate the underlying molecular
and cellular mechanisms. Studying connexins, pannexins and their channels has uncovered their potential
role in mediating communication and signaling pathways that drive neurodegenerative diseases, including
PD. Indeed, given their critical role in tissue homeostasis, it is not surprising that connexins, pannexins
and their channels are frequently involved in pathological processes. For this reason, pharmacological tools to
further clarify their functions and to validate connexins, pannexins and their channels as drug targets for the
development of novel therapies for PD treatment are urgently needed. In this paper, a state-of-the-art overview is
provided of current neuropathological and molecular understanding of PD. Focus is put on the roles of connexins,
pannexins and their channels, in particular in the development of potential innovative disease-modifying
therapies for PD treatment. |