Parkinson's disease risk genes act in glia to control neuronal α-synuclein toxicity.

ABSTRACT: Idiopathic Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is estimated to be approximately 30% heritable. Genome wide association studies have revealed numerous loci associated with risk of development of Parkinson's disease. The majority of genes identified in these studies are expressed in glia at either similar or greater levels than their expression in neurons, suggesting that glia may play a role in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. The role of individual glial risk genes in Parkinson's disease development or progression is unknown, however. We hypothesized that some Parkinson's disease risk genes exert their effects through glia. We developed a Drosophila model of α-synucleinopathy in which we can independently manipulate gene expression in neurons and gl

SUBMITTER: Olsen AL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8502212 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature