Direct Transfer of α-Synuclein from Neuron to Astroglia Causes Inflammatory Responses in Synucleinopathies

Abnormal neuronal aggregation of alpha-synuclein is implicated in the development of many neurological disorders, including Parkinson disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Glial cells also show extensive alpha-synuclein pathology and may contribute to disease progression. However, the mechanism that produces the glial alpha-synuclein pathology and the interaction between neurons and glia in the disease-inflicted microenvironment remain unknown. Here, we show that alpha-synuclein proteins released from neuronal cells are taken up by astrocytes through endocytosis and form inclusion bodies. The glial accumulation of alpha-synuclein through the transmission of the neuronal protein was also demonstrated in a…

• NR
  National Research Foundation
• NR
  National Research Foundation of Korea
• KS
  Korea Science and Engineering Foundation
• MO
  Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: AG5131, AG18440