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Wu S, Schekman RW. Intercellular transmission of alpha-synuclein. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1470171. [PMID: 39324117 PMCID: PMC11422390 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1470171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
An emerging theme in Parkinson's disease (PD) is the propagation of α-synuclein pathology as the disease progresses. Research involving the injection of preformed α-synuclein fibrils (PFFs) in animal models has recapitulated the pathological spread observed in PD patients. At the cellular and molecular levels, this intercellular spread requires the translocation of α-synuclein across various membrane barriers. Recent studies have identified subcellular organelles and protein machineries that facilitate these processes. In this review, we discuss the proposed pathways for α-synuclein intercellular transmission, including unconventional secretion, receptor-mediated uptake, endosome escape and nanotube-mediated transfer. In addition, we advocate for a rigorous examination of the evidence for the localization of α-synuclein in extracellular vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Randy W. Schekman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
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Leak RK, Clark RN, Abbas M, Xu F, Brodsky JL, Chen J, Hu X, Luk KC. Current insights and assumptions on α-synuclein in Lewy body disease. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:18. [PMID: 39141121 PMCID: PMC11324801 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02781-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2024] [Revised: 07/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Lewy body disorders are heterogeneous neurological conditions defined by intracellular inclusions composed of misshapen α-synuclein protein aggregates. Although α-synuclein aggregates are only one component of inclusions and not strictly coupled to neurodegeneration, evidence suggests they seed the propagation of Lewy pathology within and across cells. Genetic mutations, genomic multiplications, and sequence polymorphisms of the gene encoding α-synuclein are also causally linked to Lewy body disease. In nonfamilial cases of Lewy body disease, the disease trigger remains unidentified but may range from industrial/agricultural toxicants and natural sources of poisons to microbial pathogens. Perhaps due to these peripheral exposures, Lewy inclusions appear at early disease stages in brain regions connected with cranial nerves I and X, which interface with inhaled and ingested environmental elements in the nasal or gastrointestinal cavities. Irrespective of its identity, a stealthy disease trigger most likely shifts soluble α-synuclein (directly or indirectly) into insoluble, cross-β-sheet aggregates. Indeed, β-sheet-rich self-replicating α-synuclein multimers reside in patient plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and other tissues, and can be subjected to α-synuclein seed amplification assays. Thus, clinicians should be able to capitalize on α-synuclein seed amplification assays to stratify patients into potential responders versus non-responders in future clinical trials of α-synuclein targeted therapies. Here, we briefly review the current understanding of α-synuclein in Lewy body disease and speculate on pathophysiological processes underlying the potential transmission of α-synucleinopathy across the neuraxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehana K Leak
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 418C Mellon Hall, 913 Bluff Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
| | - Rachel N Clark
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 418C Mellon Hall, 913 Bluff Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Muslim Abbas
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 418C Mellon Hall, 913 Bluff Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Brodsky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xiaoming Hu
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kelvin C Luk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, PA, USA
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Mochizuki H. Pathological mechanisms and treatment of sporadic Parkinson's disease: past, present, and future. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:597-607. [PMID: 38864935 PMCID: PMC11192660 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
For a special issue, we review studies on the pathogenesis of nigral cell death and the treatment of sporadic Parkinson's disease (sPD) over the past few decades, with a focus on the studies performed by Prof. Mizuno and our group. Prof. Mizuno proposed the initial concept that mitochondrial function may be impaired in sPD. When working at Jichi Medical School, he found a decrease in complex I of the mitochondrial electron transfer complex in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and MPTP models. After moving to Juntendo University as a professor and chairman, he continued to study the mechanisms of cell death in the substantia nigra of patients with sPD. Under his supervision, I studied the relationships between PD and apoptosis, PD and iron involvement, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and PD and neuroinflammation. Moving to Kitasato University, we focused on PD and the cytotoxicity of alpha synuclein (αSyn) as well as brain neuropathology. Eventually, I moved to Osaka University, where I continued working on PD and αSyn projects to promote therapeutic research. In this paper, we present the details of these studies in the following order: past, present, and future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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Makino M, Nakamura S. A novel probe to monitor lysosome-mitochondria contact sites opens up a new path to study neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Calcium 2024; 120:102887. [PMID: 38599095 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2024.102887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Mai Makino
- Department of Biochemistry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan; Center for Autophagy and Anti-Aging Research, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Shuhei Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan; Center for Autophagy and Anti-Aging Research, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.
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Kon T, Lee S, Martinez-Valbuena I, Yoshida K, Tanikawa S, Lang AE, Kovacs GG. Molecular Behavior of α-Synuclein Is Associated with Membrane Transport, Lipid Metabolism, and Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathways in Lewy Body Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2676. [PMID: 38473923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Lewy body diseases (LBDs) feature α-synuclein (α-syn)-containing Lewy bodies, with misfolded α-syn potentially propagating as seeds. Using a seeding amplification assay, we previously reported distinct α-syn seeding in LBD cases based on the area under seeding curves. This study revealed that LBD cases showing different α-syn seeding kinetics have distinct proteomics profiles, emphasizing disruptions in mitochondria and lipid metabolism in high-seeder cases. Though the mechanisms underlying LBD development are intricate, the factors influencing α-syn seeding activity remain elusive. To address this and complement our previous findings, we conducted targeted transcriptome analyses in the substantia nigra using the nanoString nCounter assay together with histopathological evaluations in high (n = 4) and low (n = 3) nigral α-syn seeders. Neuropathological findings (particularly the substantia nigra) were consistent between these groups and were characterized by neocortical LBD associated with Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change. Among the 1811 genes assessed, we identified the top 20 upregulated and downregulated genes and pathways in α-syn high seeders compared with low seeders. Notably, alterations were observed in genes and pathways related to transmembrane transporters, lipid metabolism, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system in the high α-syn seeders. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the molecular behavior of α-syn is the driving force in the neurodegenerative process affecting the substantia nigra through these identified pathways. These insights highlight their potential as therapeutic targets for attenuating LBD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan
| | - Seojin Lee
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Ivan Martinez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Koji Yoshida
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tanikawa
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Anthony E Lang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Edmond J Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and Rossy Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Centre, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
- Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, 200 Elizabeth St., Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Krembil Brain Institute, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
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Radulovic M, Stenmark H. Lysophagy prevents neurotoxic aggregate transmission. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321181121. [PMID: 38190545 PMCID: PMC10801843 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321181121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maja Radulovic
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Montebello, OsloN-0379, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, OsloN-0379, Norway
| | - Harald Stenmark
- Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Montebello, OsloN-0379, Norway
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Montebello, OsloN-0379, Norway
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