Alpha Synuclein triggers an immune response

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Some animal studies suggest that abnormal alpha-synuclein can trigger an immune response from T cells. These cells help the immune system destroy and remove foreign matter, but become problematic when they mistakenly attack the body’s own cells. T cells have also been found in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease. These findings suggested a connection between alpha-synuclein and immune responses.

Samples taken from people with Parkinson’s disease were far more likely than samples taken from healthy adults to show strong immune responses to the alpha-synuclein fragments. Two fragments, containing the S129 and Y39 regions of the alpha-synuclein protein, provoked the highest T cell responses among people with Parkinson’s disease. These findings suggest that people with Parkinson’s disease have a heightened immune response to alpha-synuclein.

**PWP have a heightened immune response to alpha-synuclein ***. I had thought that AS was the immune response but given that it’s in the appendix of healthy controls same as PWP, this makes sense. PWP have an increased immune response to AS, meaning it’s an autoimmune reaction. ***

Our findings show that two fragments of alpha-synuclein, a protein that accumulates in the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s, can activate the T cells involved in autoimmune attacks.”

attacks.”“It remains to be seen whether the immune response to alpha-synuclein is an initial cause of Parkinson’s or if it contributes to neuronal death and worsening symptoms after the onset of the disease,

***cause or driver is unknown but an immune response to AS in PWP is evident. ***

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???How to reduce T cell autoimmune attack response. ???

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Potential treatments and diagnostic tools

The scientists hope that the genetic signature of Parkinson’s in memory T cells could one day help doctors identify people who will develop the disease.

Their discovery could also inspire new treatments that target the proteins that these particular genes make.

“Now that we can see what these T cells are doing, we think intervening with antibody therapies could have an impact on the disease progression, especially early on,” says Prof. Sette.

“A growing number of researchers are becoming interested in the potential of targeting the immune system in the development of treatments that may slow the loss of cells in Parkinson’s — something that no treatment, to date, had been shown to do,” said Professor David Dexter, Ph.D., associate director of research at Parkinson’s U.K.

“This research helps increase our understanding of which targets could provide an opportunity to develop treatments that address the underlying causes of the condition,” he added.