Author:
Schechter Meir,Grigoletto Jessica,Abd-Elhadi Suaad,Glickstein Hava,Friedman Alexander,Serrano Geidy E.,Beach Thomas G.,Sharon Ronit
Abstract
Abstract
Background
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) is a protein implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). α-Syn has been shown to associate with membranes and bind acidic phospholipids. However, the physiological importance of these associations to the integrity of axons is not fully clear.
Methods
Biochemical, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses in cultured neurons, transgenic mouse brains, PD and control human brains.
Results
We analyzed the ultrastructure of cross-sectioned axons localized to white matter tracts (WMTs), within the dorsal striatum of old and symptomatic α-Syn transgenic mouse brains. The analysis indicated a higher density of axons of thinner diameter. Our findings in cultured cortical neurons indicate a role for α-Syn in elongation of the main axon and its collaterals, resulting in enhanced axonal arborization. We show that α-Syn effect to enhance axonal outgrowth is mediated through its activity to regulate membrane levels of the acidic phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI4,5P2). Moreover, our findings link α-Syn- enhanced axonal growth with evidence for axonal injury. In relevance to disease mechanisms, we detect in human brains evidence for a higher degree of corticostriatal glutamatergic plasticity within WMTs at early stages of PD. However, at later PD stages, the respective WMTs in the caudate are degenerated with accumulation of Lewy pathology.
Conclusions
Our results show that through regulating PI4,5P2 levels, α-Syn acts to elongate the main axon and collaterals, resulting in a higher density of axons in the striatal WMTs. Based on these results we suggest a role for α-Syn in compensating mechanisms, involving corticostriatal glutamatergic plasticity, taking place early in PD.
Funder
Israel Science Foundation
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institute on Aging
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience,Clinical Neurology,Molecular Biology
Cited by
18 articles.
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