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Updated: Jun 19, 2025
10:03
Studying Pre-formed Fibril Induced α-Synuclein Accumulation in Primary Embryonic Mouse Midbrain Dopamine Neurons
Published on: August 16, 2020
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Evolving insights into erythrocytes in synucleinopathies.
Ying Yang1, Xiaoqian Nie2, Yajie Wang3
1Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Trends in Neurosciences
|July 23, 2024
Summary
Erythrocytes, rich in alpha-synuclein (α-syn), are increasingly implicated in synucleinopathies like Parkinson's disease. These cells and their extracellular vesicles may play roles in disease and offer diagnostic and therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), are neurodegenerative disorders defined by neuronal loss and alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation.
- Research traditionally focused on central nervous system pathology, but peripheral system involvement is gaining attention.
- Erythrocytes, abundant in α-syn, are emerging as a significant site for synucleinopathy-related changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evidence linking erythrocytes to synucleinopathies.
- To explore the role of erythrocytes and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) in disease pathogenesis.
- To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of erythrocytes in synucleinopathies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on α-synuclein in erythrocytes and EVs.
- Analysis of erythrocyte-derived EV interactions with the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and gastrointestinal tract.
- Exploration of erythrocyte properties for therapeutic applications.
Main Results:
- Erythrocytes contain pathological α-syn species and can release EVs.
- Erythrocyte-derived EVs may cross the BBB and interact with the gut microbiota, influencing disease progression.
- Accumulating evidence supports erythrocyte involvement in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies.
Conclusions:
- Erythrocytes and their EVs are critically involved in synucleinopathies.
- These cells offer potential as biomarkers for diagnosis.
- Erythrocytes and erythrocyte-derived EVs represent a promising platform for novel therapeutic strategies.
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