RAGE Against the Glycation Machine in Synucleinopathies: Time to Explore New Questions

Oligomerization and aggregation of misfolded forms of alpha-synuclein are believed to be key molecular mechanisms in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies, so extensive research has attempted to understand these processes. Among diverse post-translational modifications that impact alpha-synuclein aggregation, glycation may take place at several lysine sites and modify alpha-synuclein oligomerization, toxicity, and clearance. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is considered a key regulator of chronic neuroinflammation through microglial activation in response to advanced glycation end products, such as carboxy-ethyl-lysine, or carboxy-methyl-lysine. The presence of RAGE in the midbrain of PD patients has been reported in the last decades and this receptorwas proposed to have a role in sustainingPDneuroinflammation. However, different PD animal models demonstrated that RAGE is preferentially expressed in neurons and astrocytes, while recent evidence demonstrated that fibrillar, non-glycated alpha-synuclein binds to RAGE. Here, we summarize the available data on alpha-synuclein glycation and RAGE in the context of PD, and discuss about the questions yet to be answered that may increase our understanding of the molecular bases of PD and synucleinopathies.

Automated summary

Oligomerization and aggregation of misfolded alpha-synuclein are important mechanisms in PD and synucleinopathies. Glycation as a post-translational modification can impact the aggregation, toxicity, and clearance of alpha-synuclein. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is involved in neuroinflammation in PD, although there are conflicting findings on its expression and interaction with alpha-synuclein.