Exogenous α-Synuclein Fibrils Induce Lewy Body Pathology Leading to Synaptic Dysfunction and Neuron Death

Laura A. Volpicelli-Daley, Kelvin C. Luk, Tapan P. Patel, Selcuk A. Tanik, Dawn M. Riddle, Anna Stieber, David F. Meaney, John Q. Trojanowski, Virginia M.Y. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

755 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inclusions composed of α-synuclein (α-syn), i.e., Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites (LNs), define synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Here, we demonstrate that preformed fibrils generated from full-length and truncated recombinant α-syn enter primary neurons, probably by adsorptive-mediated endocytosis, and promote recruitment of soluble endogenous α-syn into insoluble PD-like LBs and LNs. Remarkably, endogenous α-syn was sufficient for formation of these aggregates, and overexpression of wild-type or mutant α-syn was not required. LN-like pathology first developed in axons and propagated to form LB-like inclusions in perikarya. Accumulation of pathologic α-syn led to selective decreases in synaptic proteins, progressive impairments in neuronal excitability and connectivity, and, eventually, neuron death. Thus, our data contribute important insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of PD-like α-syn inclusions and their impact on neuronal functions, and they provide a model for discovering therapeutics targeting pathologic α-syn-mediated neurodegeneration.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)57-71
Number of pages15
JournalNeuron
Volume72
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 6 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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