title: Central role of alpha-synuclein oligomers in neurodegeneration in Parkinson disease.
abstract: Selective death of nigrostriatal neurons, which leads to Parkinson disease, is explained by misfolding of brain protein alpha-synuclein. Herein, we review the data supporting this concept, propose a scheme of events leading to synuclein-induced neuronal death, and discuss protein deacetylase sirtuins as new potential therapeutic targets involved in this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Bldg 114, 3300 16th St, Charlestown, MA 02129-4404, USA. akazantsev@partners.org
authors.forename: Aleksey G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Kazantsev
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kolchinsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C430456:desmuslin