Abstract
The paradoxical appearance of aggregated α-synuclein (αsyn) in naive transplanted embryonic stem cells in Parkinson's disease (PD) brains has recently been reported, highlighting the possibility of neuron to neuron transmission of αsyn in PD. Here, we demonstrate in a cellular model the presence of αsyn oligomers in the extracellular space, their uptake by neurons, retrograde axonal transport to cell soma, and detrimental effects on neighboring cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that Hsp70 chaperones αsyn in the extracellular space and reduces extracellular αsyn oligomer formation and related toxicity. These novel findings provide evidence that extracellular αsyn oligomers may represent a crucial player in the propagation of pathology in PD, with their modulation by Hsp70 representing a potential new target for therapeutic interventions.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 326-336 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | FASEB Journal |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2011 |
Keywords
- Aggregation
- Microfluidic culture system
- Parkinson's disease
- Protein complementation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics