title: Pathologic modifications of alpha-synuclein in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated squirrel monkeys.
abstract: alpha-Synuclein expression is increased in dopaminergic neurons challenged by toxic insults. Here, we assessed whether this upregulation is accompanied by pathologic accumulation of alpha-synuclein and protein modifications (i.e. nitration, phosphorylation, and aggregation) that are typically observed in Parkinson disease and in other synucleinopathies. A single injection of the neurotoxicant 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to squirrel monkeys caused a buildup of alpha-synuclein but not of beta-synuclein or synaptophysin within nigral dopaminergic cell bodies. Immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy also revealed large numbers of dystrophic axons labeled with alpha-synuclein. Antibodies that recognize nitrated and phosphorylated (at serine 129) alpha-synuclein stained neuronal cell bodies and dystrophic axons in the midbrain of MPTP-treated animals. After toxicant exposure, alpha-synuclein deposition occurred at the level of neuronal axons in which amorphous protein aggregates were observed by immunoelectron microscopy. In a subset of these axons, immunoreactivity for alpha-synuclein was still evident after tissue digestion with proteinase K, further indicating the accumulation of insoluble protein. These data indicate that toxic injury can induce alpha-synuclein modifications that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of human synucleinopathies. The findings are also consistent with a pattern of evolution of alpha-synuclein pathology that may begin with the accumulation and aggregation of the protein within damaged axons.
authors.affiliation: The Parkinson's Institute, Sunnyvale, California 94085, USA.
authors.forename: Alison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Sally K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shenasa
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Langston
authors.forename: Lysia S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Forno
authors.forename: Donato A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Di Monte
mesh_terms: D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron / Q000379:methods; D016501:Neurites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012453:Saimiri; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D015632:1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; D004298:Dopamine