Beyond alpha-synuclein transfer: pathology propagation in Parkinson%26apos;s disease

作者：Hansen Christian; Li Jia Yi^*

来源：Trends in Molecular Medicine, 2012, 18(5): 248-255.

DOI：10.1016/j.molmed.2012.03.002

alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) is the most abundant protein found in Lewy bodies, a hallmark of Parkinson%26apos;s disease (PD), and can aggregate to form toxic oligomers and fibrillar structures. Recent studies have shown that alpha-syn can be transmitted between neurons and can seed the formation of toxic aggregates in recipient neurons in a prion-like manner. In addition, it is known that Lewy body pathology may spread gradually and systematically from the peripheral or enteric nervous system or olfactory bulb to specific brain regions during progression of idiopathic PD. It is therefore conceivable that alpha-syn species could act as seeds that drive PD progression. Here, we review recent advances from studies of alpha-syn cell-to-cell transfer, the current understanding of alpha-syn toxicity, and how these relate to progression of PD pathology.

• 出版日期2012-5