Humans ; alpha-Synuclein/genetics* ; Parkinson Disease/pathology*

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, late-onset and fatal neurodegenerative disease including multisystem neurodegeneration and the formation of alpha-synuclein containing oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs), which present the hallmark of the disease. MSA is considered to be a sporadic disease; however certain genetic aspects have been studied during the last years in order to shed light on the largely unknown etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. Epidemiological studies focused on the possible impact of environmental factors on MSA disease development. This article gives an overview on the findings from genetic and epigenetic studies on MSA and discusses the role of genetic or epigenetic factors in disease pathogenesis.
alpha-Synuclein ; Epigenomics* ; Genetics ; Inclusion Bodies ; Multiple System Atrophy* ; Neurodegenerative Diseases

OBJECTIVETo investigate over-expression of wild-type alpha-synuclein inducing the aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein in HEK293 cell in vitro.

METHODSThe cDNA encoding the human alpha-synuclein without the stop code was cloned into PGEM T-easy vector. Using enzyme map and DNA sequencing analyzed and determined the recombinant plasmid, and then sub-clone the alpha-synuclein cDNA fragment into pEGFP-N1 vector. The recombinant plasmids alpha-synuclein-pEGFP were transfected into HEK293 cells by lipofectamin 2000. The aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein was measured by EGFP fluorescence, anti-alpha-synuclein immunocytochemistry. The inclusions in the cultured cells were identified with HE staining.

RESULTSThe restriction enzyme map suggested that eukaryotic expression vector for human wild-type alpha-synuclein gene was constructed successfully. By EGFP fluorescence, anti-alpha-synuclein immunocytochemistry, it could be observed that the alpha-synuclein protein could aggregate in cytoplasm and the Lewy body-like inclusions found in cytoplasm of cultured cells.

CONCLUSIONThe over-expression of wild-type alpha-synuclein can induce protein aberrant aggregation and Lewy body-like inclusions formation in cytoplasm of HEK293 cell in vitro.

Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inclusion Bodies ; metabolism ; Lewy Bodies ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics ; metabolism

Aged ; Cognition Disorders ; genetics ; F-Box Proteins ; genetics ; HSP40 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct specific and effective RNA interference(RNAi) plasmid for alpha-synuclein gene and investigate RNAi blockade of the aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein in HEK293 cells induced by overexpression of wild-type alpha-synuclein.

METHODSHairpin RNAs for four target sites were designed to construct four RNAi plasmids pSYNi-1, pSYNi-2, pSYNi-3 and pSYNi-4, using plasmid pBSHH1 vector under the control of the H1 promoter. Western blot and reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR) were performed to screen the most specific and effective RNAi plasmid. After confirming the sequences of the plasmids, they were co-transfected into HEK293 cells with the recombinant plasmids alpha-synuclein-pEGFP by using lipofectamin 2000. The aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein was measured by EGFP fluorescence and immunocytochemistry for alpha-synuclein. The inclusions in the cultured cells were identified with HE staining.

RESULTSBy Western blot and RT-PCR, pSYNi-1 showed the most effective RNAi gene silencing effect (69.6%). After transfecting the RNAi plasmid, the aberrant aggregation of alpha-synuclein in HEK293 cells induced by overexpression of wild-type alpha-synuclein was inhibited. The Lewy body-like inclusions were found in cytoplasm of cultured cells in control group, but disappeared in HEK293 cells cotransfected by pSYNi-1 and alpha-synuclein-pEGFP plasmid.

CONCLUSIONRNAi can block the aberrant aggregation and Lewy body-like inclusion formation in cytoplasm of HEK293 cell induced by overexpression of wild-type alpha-synuclein.

Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics ; metabolism

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifaceted disease in which environmental variables combined with genetic predisposition cause dopaminergic (DAergic) neuron loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The mutation of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (Lrrk2) is the most common autosomal dominant mutation in PD, and it has also been reported in sporadic cases. A growing body of research suggests that circadian rhythm disruption, particularly sleep-wake abnormality, is common during the early phase of PD. Our present study aimed to evaluate the impact of sleep deprivation (SD) on motor ability, sleep performance, and PD pathologies in Lrrk2^G2019S transgenic mice. After two months of SD, Lrrk2^G2019S mice at 12 months of age showed an exacerbated PD-like phenotype with motor deficits, a reduced striatal DA level, degenerated DAergic neurons, and altered sleep structure and biological rhythm accompanied by the decreased protein expression level of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput Lrrk2 gene in the brain. All these changes persisted and were even more evident in 18-month-old mice after 6 months of follow-up. Moreover, a significant increase in α-synuclein aggregation was found in SD-treated transgenic mice at 18 months of age. Taken together, our findings indicate that sleep abnormalities, as a risk factor, may contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of PD. Early detection of sleep disorders and improvement of sleep quality may help to delay disease progression and provide long-term clinical benefits.
Animals ; Electroencephalography ; Leucine/genetics* ; Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mutation ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Sleep Deprivation/complications* ; alpha-Synuclein/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship of Chinese familial Parkinson disease with alpha-synuclein gene.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and polymerase chain reaction-heteroduplex analysis(PCR-HA) were employed to detect the abnormal mobilization in the familial Parkinson disease and sporadic Parkinson disease patients, then it was verified by gene sequencing.

RESULTSNo mutation was found in alpha-synuclein gene exons 3 and 4 by PCR-SSCP together with PCR-HA. An inserted c and an inserted t were found in intron 4, position 23 and position 67 respectively.

CONCLUSION(1) Exons 3 and 4 of alpha-synuclein gene are not the mutational hot spots of Chinese familial Parkinson disease. (2) Two polymorphisms were found in intron 4 of alpha-synuclein gene. They are 23 ins c and 67 ins t.

Adult ; Aged ; Exons ; Female ; Heteroduplex Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Synucleins ; alpha-Synuclein

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO-1) modification on the formation of Lewy body like inclusions in cytoplasm and apoptosis of HEK293 cell induced by overexpression and mutation of alpha-synuclein.

METHODScDNA encoding the human alpha-synuclein without the stop codon was cloned into a pGEM T-easy vector. Restriction enzyme mapping and DNA sequencing were performed to analyze the plasmid, which was then subcloned into a pEGFP-N1 vector. The recombinant plasmid alpha-synuclein-pEGFP was transfected into HEK293 cells by lipofectamin method. Inclusions in the cultured cells were identified with HE staining. Apoptosis of the HEK293 cell was measured by Hoechst 33258 staining, MTT and Annexin V-PE flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe Lewy-body like inclusions were found in cytoplasm of cultured cells. Hoechst staining showed that the nuclei of cells were enlarged in the wild-type and A53T mutation groups 48 h after transfection, chromatin were accumulated and appeared spot-like. The nucleus stain was equitable in the K96R and K96R-A53T groups. MTT assay showed that the viability of cells transfected with empty plasmid was 96.2%, but it dropped to 53.4% and 56.1% in cells transfected with wild-type alpha-synuclein-pEGFP and A53T mutant group, respectively. The viability was 72.3% and 69.8% in cells transfected with K96R and K96R-A53T, respectively (P<0.05). Forty eight hours after transfection, the apoptosis rate was 3.9% in empty plasmid group, 32.2% and 34.1% in cells transfected with wild-type and mutant alpha-synuclein-pEGFP, 19.4% and 20.3% in the K96R and K96R-A53T transfected cells. There was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUMO-1 modification did not have influence on the Lewy body-like inclusions formation in cytoplasm of HEK293 cell in vitro, but had a toxic effect which could increase the apoptosis induced by wild type overexpression and mutation of alpha-synuclein.

Apoptosis ; genetics ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Lewy Bodies ; metabolism ; Mutation ; genetics ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; SUMO-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of the microsatellite polymorphisms in the promoter region of alpha-synuclein gene with the late-onset sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) susceptibility.

METHODSThe microsatellite polymorphism of alpha-synuclein gene was analyzed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (Amp-FLP) and semiautomatic fluorescent labeled genotyping technique. Association analysis was performed in 135 unrelated late-onset sporadic PD patients and 170 age-matched healthy controls.

RESULTSThe distribution of the alleles of the dinucleotide repeats variants of alpha-synuclein gene promoter region in PD cases was significantly different from that in the healthy controls. The most frequent allele in PD patients was allele 269 bp, but in controls it was the 271 bp allele. Alleles of

CONCLUSIONalpha-synuclein microsatellite polymorphism might be a genetic susceptibility factor for late-onset sporadic PD.

Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of curcumin on oligomer formation and mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoKATP) induced by overexpression or mutation of &alpha;-synuclein.

METHODSRecombinant plasmids &alpha;-synuclein-pEGFP-A53T and &alpha;-synuclein-pEGFP-WT were transfected into PC12 cells by lipofectamin method, and intervened by application of curcumin (20 μmol/L) and 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD). Oligomer formation in the cultured cells was identified by Western blotting and Dot blotting. Cytotoxicity and apoptosis of the PC12 cells were measured by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and JC-1 assays. mitoKATP were identified by Western blotting and whole cell patch clamp.

RESULTSCurcumin has significantly reduced the oligomer formation induced by overexpression or mutation of &alpha;-synuclein in the cultured cells. LDH has decreased by 36.3% and 23.5%, and red/green fluorescence ratio of JC-1 was increased respectively by 48.46% and 50.33% after application of curcumin (P<0.05). Protein expression of Kir6.2 has decreased and mitoKATP channel current has significantly increased (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin can inhibit &alpha;-synuclein gene overexpression or mutation induced &alpha;-synuclein oligomers formation. It may block apoptosis induced by wild-type overexpression or mutation of &alpha;-synuclein. By stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential. Opening of mitoKATP channel may have been the initiating protective mechanism of apoptosis induced by wild-type overexpression or mutation of &alpha;-synuclein. Curcumin may antagonize above cytotoxicity through further opening the mitoKATP channel.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Humans ; KATP Channels ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; drug effects ; PC12 Cells ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Rats ; alpha-Synuclein ; genetics