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Updated: Nov 29, 2025
Exogenous Administration of Microsomes-associated Alpha-synuclein Aggregates to Primary Neurons As a Powerful Cell Model of Fibrils Formation
Published on: June 26, 2018
Preferential microglial activation associated with pathological alpha synuclein transmission
Young Eun Kim1, Thuy Thi Lai2, Yun Joong Kim3
1Department of Neurology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Anyang, South Korea.
Abstract:
Self-proliferation of the pathological form of α-synuclein was identified as one of the main pathophysiological presentations of Parkinson's disease (PD) a decade ago. Although inflammation has also been suggested to contribute to PD pathogenesis, it is unclear whether this is associated with the pathological spread of α-synuclein aggregation. Herein, we evaluated two main neuroinflammatory processes in the striatum-microgliosis and astrogliosis-after the injection of preformed fibrils of α-synuclein into the mouse striatum. Thus, our study demonstrated that microgliosis accompanied α-synuclein propagation, while astrogliosis did not. Therefore, we report a preferential association between microglia and the process of α-synuclein proliferation.
Insights
Parkinson's disease involves pathological α-synuclein. This study found that microgliosis, a type of brain inflammation, is linked to α-synuclein proliferation, suggesting microglia play a role in Parkinson's disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis involves the self-proliferation of pathological α-synuclein.
- Neuroinflammation is implicated in PD, but its association with α-synuclein spread remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neuroinflammation and α-synuclein propagation in the mouse striatum.
- To evaluate microgliosis and astrogliosis in response to α-synuclein fibril injection.
Main Methods:
- Injection of preformed α-synuclein fibrils into the mouse striatum.
- Assessment of microgliosis and astrogliosis as indicators of neuroinflammation.
Main Results:
- α-synuclein propagation was observed in the striatum following fibril injection.
- Microgliosis was found to accompany α-synuclein propagation.
- Astrogliosis did not show a similar association with α-synuclein proliferation.
Conclusions:
- Microglia are preferentially associated with the proliferation of pathological α-synuclein.
- This suggests a specific role for microglia in the spread of α-synuclein pathology in Parkinson's disease.
