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How can rAAV-α-synuclein and the fibril α-synuclein models advance our understanding of Parkinson's disease?

Volpicelli-Daley, Laura A ; Kirik, Deniz LU ; Stoyka, Lindsay E ; Standaert, David G and Harms, Ashley S (2016) In Journal of Neurochemistry 139(S1). p.131-155
Abstract

Abstract: Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) are important for understanding the mechanisms of the disease and can contribute to developing and validating novel therapeutics. Ideally, these models should replicate the cardinal features of PD, such as progressive neurodegeneration of catecholaminergic neurons and motor defects. Many current PD models emphasize pathological forms of α-synuclein, based on findings that autosomal dominant mutations in α-synuclein and duplications/triplications of the SNCA gene cause PD. In addition, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, primarily composed of α-synuclein, represent the predominant pathological characteristics of PD. These inclusions have defined features, such as insolubility in non-ionic... (More)

Abstract: Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) are important for understanding the mechanisms of the disease and can contribute to developing and validating novel therapeutics. Ideally, these models should replicate the cardinal features of PD, such as progressive neurodegeneration of catecholaminergic neurons and motor defects. Many current PD models emphasize pathological forms of α-synuclein, based on findings that autosomal dominant mutations in α-synuclein and duplications/triplications of the SNCA gene cause PD. In addition, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, primarily composed of α-synuclein, represent the predominant pathological characteristics of PD. These inclusions have defined features, such as insolubility in non-ionic detergent, hyperphosphorylation, proteinase K sensitivity, a filamentous appearance by electron microscopy, and β-sheet structure. Furthermore, it has become clear that Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are found throughout the peripheral and central nervous system, and could account not only for motor symptoms, but also for non-motor symptoms of the disease. The goal of this review is to describe two new α-synuclein-based models: the recombinant adeno-associated viral vector-α-synuclein model and the α-synuclein fibril model. An advantage of both models is that they do not require extensive crossbreeding of rodents transgenic for α-synuclein with other rodents transgenic for genes of interest to study the impact of such genes on PD-related pathology and phenotypes. In addition, abnormal α-synuclein can be expressed in brain regions relevant for disease. Here, we discuss the features of each model, how each model has contributed thus far to our understanding of PD, and the advantages and potential caveats of each model. (Figure presented.) This review describes two α-synuclein-based rodent models of Parkinson's disease: the rAAV-α-synuclein model and the α-synuclein fibril model. The key features of these models are described, and the extent to which they recapitulate features of PD, such as α-synuclein inclusion formation, loss of dopaminergic synapses in the striatum, motor defects, inflammation, and dopamine neuron death. This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
AAV, fibril, Lewy bodies, Lewy neurites, Parkinson's disease, α-synuclein
in
Journal of Neurochemistry
volume
139
issue
S1
pages
25 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000385770500010
  • scopus:85027934032
  • pmid:27018978
ISSN
1471-4159
DOI
10.1111/jnc.13627
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d9684f31-d3e2-4ed7-966d-aae4aa242d07
date added to LUP
2016-04-18 13:06:11
date last changed
2024-02-18 14:42:58
@article{d9684f31-d3e2-4ed7-966d-aae4aa242d07,
  abstract     = {{<p>Abstract: Animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) are important for understanding the mechanisms of the disease and can contribute to developing and validating novel therapeutics. Ideally, these models should replicate the cardinal features of PD, such as progressive neurodegeneration of catecholaminergic neurons and motor defects. Many current PD models emphasize pathological forms of α-synuclein, based on findings that autosomal dominant mutations in α-synuclein and duplications/triplications of the SNCA gene cause PD. In addition, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, primarily composed of α-synuclein, represent the predominant pathological characteristics of PD. These inclusions have defined features, such as insolubility in non-ionic detergent, hyperphosphorylation, proteinase K sensitivity, a filamentous appearance by electron microscopy, and β-sheet structure. Furthermore, it has become clear that Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites are found throughout the peripheral and central nervous system, and could account not only for motor symptoms, but also for non-motor symptoms of the disease. The goal of this review is to describe two new α-synuclein-based models: the recombinant adeno-associated viral vector-α-synuclein model and the α-synuclein fibril model. An advantage of both models is that they do not require extensive crossbreeding of rodents transgenic for α-synuclein with other rodents transgenic for genes of interest to study the impact of such genes on PD-related pathology and phenotypes. In addition, abnormal α-synuclein can be expressed in brain regions relevant for disease. Here, we discuss the features of each model, how each model has contributed thus far to our understanding of PD, and the advantages and potential caveats of each model. (Figure presented.) This review describes two α-synuclein-based rodent models of Parkinson's disease: the rAAV-α-synuclein model and the α-synuclein fibril model. The key features of these models are described, and the extent to which they recapitulate features of PD, such as α-synuclein inclusion formation, loss of dopaminergic synapses in the striatum, motor defects, inflammation, and dopamine neuron death. This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.</p>}},
  author       = {{Volpicelli-Daley, Laura A and Kirik, Deniz and Stoyka, Lindsay E and Standaert, David G and Harms, Ashley S}},
  issn         = {{1471-4159}},
  keywords     = {{AAV; fibril; Lewy bodies; Lewy neurites; Parkinson's disease; α-synuclein}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{S1}},
  pages        = {{131--155}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Neurochemistry}},
  title        = {{How can rAAV-α-synuclein and the fibril α-synuclein models advance our understanding of Parkinson's disease?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13627}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jnc.13627}},
  volume       = {{139}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}