Parkinson’s protein rekindles hopes for therapy

A protein rekindles hopes for Parkinson’s disease therapy. It is called Alpha-synuclein and is the protagonist of a study, published in the November issue of the magazine ‘Brain’, the result of the collaboration of a pool of universities, Irccs and Italian research bodies (Università Cattolica campus of Rome, University of Perugia , University of Milan, Cnr of Rome, San Raffaele University Irccs of Rome, University of Rome Tor Vergata and Irccs Santa Lucia Foundation), coordinated by Professor Paolo Calabresi, director of the Uoc of Neurology of the Gemelli Irccs University Polyclinic Foundation and full professor of Neurology of the Catholic University, Rome campus. Researchers investigated the mechanisms by which the abnormal alpha-synuclein protein organizes itself and interferes with the communication between neurons, leading them to irreversible destruction (neurodegeneration). “To study these aspects – explains Calabresi – a very early and progressive animal model of Parkinson’s disease was developed, caused by the activity of alpha-synuclein aggregates and able to reproduce the salient phases of the disease observed in patients” . “We were thus able to identify the mechanisms by which the altered alpha-synuclein determines the first manifestations of the disease. The hope is that this may lead to the discovery of new therapeutic strategies, such as monoclonal antibodies capable of counteracting the spread of the proteins. immunotherapies – underlines the neurologist – would have the purpose of ‘teaching’ the immune system to recognize the abnormal alpha-synuclein early, to destroy it before it causes cell damage “. In short, alpha-synuclein represents “a promising pharmacological target, a new frontier for the search for a therapy (and potentially a cure) for Parkinson’s disease, which is no longer based solely on drugs that relieve symptoms, but on therapies capable of delaying or blocking the progression of the disease “, comments Calabresi. But for the strategy to be successful, early diagnosis is essential. The solution could again revolve around modified alpha-synuclein, which is also at the center of trials for early-phase biomarkers and can be measured in both CSF and blood. “This new biomarker – continues Calabresi – could make it possible in the future to diagnose the disease at an early stage and to intervene with precision medicine strategies. It is therefore not surprising that alpha-synuclein has been dubbed the protein of hope”.