Systemic inflammation triggers long-lasting neuroinflammation and accelerates neurodegeneration in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease overexpressing human alpha-synuclein

Output Details

Increasing efforts have been made to elucidate how genetic and environmental factors interact in Parkinson's disease (PD). In the present study, we assessed the development of PD-like symptoms on a genetic PD rat model overexpressing human α-synuclein (Snca+/+) at a presymptomatic age, exposed to a pro-inflammatory insult by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), using immunohistology, high-dimensional flow cytometry, electrophysiology, and behavioral analyses. A single injection of LPS to both WT and Snca+/+ rats triggered long-lasting increased activation of pro-inflammatory microglial markers, infiltrating monocytes and T-lymphocytes. However, only LPS Snca+/+ rats displayed dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), associated with a reduction of evoked dopamine release in the striatum. No significant changes were observed in the behavioral domain. We propose our double-hit animal as a reliable model to investigate the mechanisms whereby α-synuclein and inflammation interact to promote neurodegeneration in PD.

Meet the Authors

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    Mariangela Massaro, MSc

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

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    Marta Tiberi

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    Emmanuela Paldino

  • Sebastian Luca D’Addario, PhD

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

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    Mauro Federici

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    Cecilia Giacomet, MSc

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Policlinico Tor Vergata

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    Debora Cutuli

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    Alessandro Matteocci

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    Francesca Cossa, PhD

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

  • Beatrice Zarrilli, MSc

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

  • Ada Ledonne, PhD

    Key Personnel: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

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    Laura Petrosini

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    Nicola Berretta, PhD

    Collaborating PI: Team Vila

    Fondazione Santa Lucia

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    Francesca Romana Fusco

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    Valerio Chiurchiù

  • Nicola Mercuri, MD, PhD

    Co-PI (Core Leadership): Team Vila

    University of Rome Tor Vergata, Fondazione Santa Lucia