Dopaminergic drug-induced modulation of the expression of the dopamine transporter in peripheral blood lymphocytes in Parkinson’s disease

The modulation of expression of the dopamine transporter by dopaminergic drugs was investigated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients suffering Parkinson’s disease. An 8-week in vivo exposure to pramipexole (0.7 mg free base, 3 times a day) or ropinirole (12 mg, once daily), but not levodopa/carbidopa (100/25 mg, 3 times a day), significantly reduced the mean fluorescence intensity of the dopamine transporter in peripheral blood lymphocytes. These results demonstrate that levodopa differs from dopamine agonists in its regulation of dopamine transporter expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes.