Alpha synuclein, the culprit in Parkinson disease, is required for normal immune function

Alpha-synuclein (alpha S) is causally involved in the development of Parkinson disease (PD); however, its role in normal vertebrate physiology has remained unknown. Recent studies demonstrate that alpha S is induced by noroviral infection in the enteric nervous system of children and protects mice against lethal neurotropic viral infection. Additionally, alpha S is a potent chemotactic activator of phagocytes. In this report, using both wildtype and alpha S knockout mice, we show that alpha S is a critical mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. alpha S is required for the development of a normal inflammatory response to bacterial peptidoglycan introduced into the peritoneal cavity as well as antigen-specific and T cell responses following intraperitoneal immunization. Furthermore, we show that neural cells are the sources of alpha S required for immune competence. Our report supports the hypothesis that alpha S accumulates within the nervous system of PD individuals because of an inflammatory/immune response.

Automated summary

Recent studies have shown that alpha-synuclein plays a crucial role in normal vertebrate physiology and is a critical mediator of inflammatory and immune responses. Neural cells are the sources of alpha-synuclein required for immune competence.