@article{vasili_endogenous_2022, title = {Endogenous Levels of Alpha-Synuclein Modulate Seeding and Aggregation in Cultured Cells}, volume = {59}, issn = {0893-7648, 1559-1182}, url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12035-021-02713-2}, doi = {10.1007/s12035-021-02713-2}, abstract = {Abstract Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein in intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites. Multiple studies strongly implicate the levels of alpha-synuclein as a major risk factor for the onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Alpha-synuclein pathology spreads progressively throughout interconnected brain regions but the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the seeding of alpha-synuclein aggregation are still unclear. Here, using stable cell lines expressing alpha-synuclein, we examined the correlation between endogenous alpha-synuclein levels and the seeding propensity by exogenous alpha-synuclein preformed fibrils. We applied biochemical approaches and imaging methods in stable cell lines expressing alpha-synuclein and in primary neurons to determine the impact of alpha-synuclein levels on seeding and aggregation. Our results indicate that the levels of alpha-synuclein define the pattern and severity of aggregation and the extent of p-alpha-synuclein deposition, likely explaining the selective vulnerability of different cell types in synucleinopathies. The elucidation of the cellular processes involved in the pathological aggregation of alpha-synuclein will enable the identification of novel targets and the development of therapeutic strategies for Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies.}, pages = {1273--1284}, number = {2}, journaltitle = {Molecular Neurobiology}, shortjournal = {Mol Neurobiol}, author = {Vasili, Eftychia and Dominguez-Meijide, Antonio and Flores-León, Manuel and Al-Azzani, Mohammed and Kanellidi, Angeliki and Melki, Ronald and Stefanis, Leonidas and Outeiro, Tiago Fleming}, urldate = {2022-04-13}, date = {2022-02}, langid = {english}, keywords = {peer-reviewed}, }