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Systemic α-synuclein injection triggers selective neuronal pathology as seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

He, Xiaoling 
Wood, Tobias C. 
Yang, Sujeong 

Abstract

Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an α-synucleinopathy characterized by the progressive loss of specific neuronal populations. Here, we develop a novel approach to transvascularly deliver proteins of complex quaternary structures, including α-synuclein preformed fibrils (pff). We show that a single systemic administration of α-synuclein pff triggers pathological transformation of endogenous α-synuclein in non-transgenic rats, which leads to neurodegeneration in discrete brain regions. Specifically, pff-exposed animals displayed a progressive deterioration in gastrointestinal and olfactory functions, which corresponded with the presence of cellular pathology in the central and enteric nervous systems. The α-synuclein pathology generated was both time dependent and region specific. Interestingly, the most significant neuropathological changes were observed in those brain regions affected in the early stages of PD. Our data therefore demonstrate for the first time that a single, transvascular administration of α-synuclein pff can lead to selective regional neuropathology resembling the premotor stage of idiopathic PD. Furthermore, this novel delivery approach could also be used to deliver a range of other pathogenic, as well as therapeutic, protein cargos transvascularly to the brain.

Description

Keywords

Article, /631/1647, /631/378, /82/6, /59/57, /82/51, /82/80, /96/106, /82/1, /14/19, /14/28, article

Journal Title

Molecular Psychiatry

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1359-4184
1476-5578

Volume Title

26

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group UK
Sponsorship
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC) (MR/S005528/1, MR/N025377/1, MR/N026063/1)
Rosetrees Trust (CM234)
Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK) (ARUK-RF2016A-1)