title: Alpha-Synuclein, a Novel Viral Restriction Factor Hiding in Plain Sight.
abstract: Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a highly conserved protein encoded by the SNCA gene and is expressed uniquely in neurons of both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS). α-Syn is known to cause sporadic and familial forms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the role for neuronal expression of α-syn in the first place remains unknown. We review and discuss recently published work that suggests a novel role for α-syn expression in neurons as a restriction factor that inhibits virus transmission from the PNS to the CNS. The potential new role for α-syn expression as a virus inhibitor may provide new approaches to understand the pathogenesis of PD and provide novel approaches to prevent and treat this common neurodegenerative disease.
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: Aaron R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: 1 Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Aurora, Colorado.|2 Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine , Aurora, Colorado.|3 Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Graduate School , Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Beckham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein
keywords: Parkinson's disease; alpha-synuclein; encephalitis; virus