title: α-Synuclein and nonhuman primate models of Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) leading to the formation of insoluble intracellular aggregates named Lewy bodies is proposed to have a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. Nonhuman primate (NHP) models of PD have proven essential for understanding the neurobiological basis of the disease and for the preclinical evaluation of first-in-class and invasive therapies. In addition to neurotoxin, aging and intracerebral gene transfer models, a new generation of models using inoculations of α-syn formulations, as well as transgenic methods is emerging. Understanding of their advantages and limitations will be essential when choosing a platform to evaluate α-syn-related pathology and interpreting the test results of new treatments targeting α-syn aggregation. In this review we aim to provide insight on this issue by critically analyzing the differences in endogenous α-syn, as well as α-syn pathology in PD and PD NHP models.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States. Electronic address: svermilyea@primate.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Scott C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Vermilyea
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States; Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1220 Capitol Court, Madison, WI 53715, United States. Electronic address: emborg@primate.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Marina E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Emborg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011323:Primates / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein
keywords: Alpha synuclein; Animal models; Lewy body; Lewy neurite; Nonhuman primates; Parkinson's disease