Open Access

Relationship among α‑synuclein, aging and inflammation in Parkinson's disease (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Nianping Zhang
    • Zhaoli Yan
    • Hua Xin
    • Shuai Shao
    • Song Xue
    • Raymond Cespuglio
    • Shijun Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 21, 2023     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12311
  • Article Number: 23
  • Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative pathology whose major clinical symptoms are movement disorders. The main pathological characteristics of PD are the selective death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the pars compacta of the substantia nigra and the presence of Lewy bodies containing α‑synuclein (α‑Syn) within these neurons. PD is associated with numerous risk factors, including environmental factors, genetic mutations and aging. In many cases, the complex interplay of numerous risk factors leads to the onset of PD. The mutated α‑Syn gene, which expresses pathologicalα‑Syn protein, can cause PD. Another important feature of PD is neuroinflammation, which is conducive to neuronal death. α‑Syn is able to interact with certain cell types in the brain, including through phagocytosis and degradation of α‑Syn by glial cells, activation of inflammatory pathways by α‑Syn in glial cells, transmission of α‑Syn between glial cells and neurons, and interactions between peripheral immune cells and α‑Syn. In addition to the aforementioned risk factors, PD may also be associated with aging, as the prevalence of PD increases with advancing age. The aging process impairs the cellular clearance mechanism, which leads to chronic inflammation and the accumulation of intracellular α‑Syn, which results in DA neuronal death. In the present review, the age‑associated α‑Syn pathogenicity and the interactions between α‑Syn and certain types of cells within the brain are discussed to facilitate understanding of the mechanisms of PD pathogenesis, which may potentially provide insight for the future clinical treatment of PD.
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January-2024
Volume 27 Issue 1

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Copy and paste a formatted citation
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Spandidos Publications style
Zhang N, Yan Z, Xin H, Shao S, Xue S, Cespuglio R and Wang S: Relationship among α‑synuclein, aging and inflammation in Parkinson's disease (Review). Exp Ther Med 27: 23, 2024
APA
Zhang, N., Yan, Z., Xin, H., Shao, S., Xue, S., Cespuglio, R., & Wang, S. (2024). Relationship among α‑synuclein, aging and inflammation in Parkinson's disease (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 27, 23. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12311
MLA
Zhang, N., Yan, Z., Xin, H., Shao, S., Xue, S., Cespuglio, R., Wang, S."Relationship among α‑synuclein, aging and inflammation in Parkinson's disease (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 27.1 (2024): 23.
Chicago
Zhang, N., Yan, Z., Xin, H., Shao, S., Xue, S., Cespuglio, R., Wang, S."Relationship among α‑synuclein, aging and inflammation in Parkinson's disease (Review)". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 27, no. 1 (2024): 23. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2023.12311