Alpha synuclein, the culprit in Parkinson disease, is required for normal immune function
/PMC/2026
Why It Matters
This flips the script on alpha-synuclein from pure villain to necessary protein gone wrong. For someone thinking about Parkinson's prevention, it suggests we can't just eliminate this protein — we need strategies that prevent its clumping while preserving its immune function. It also raises questions about whether some immune-modulating interventions could affect Parkinson's risk.
Key Findings
- Knockout mice lacking alpha-synuclein showed defective immune responses when challenged with bacterial infections
- Alpha-synuclein appears to play a role in regulating immune cell function under normal conditions, not just disease states
- The protein's immune function suggests its evolutionary conservation — it stuck around because it does something useful, not just because it causes disease when it misfolds
- This dual role complicates therapeutic strategies that target alpha-synuclein reduction, since too little may compromise immunity
Read the Paper↗PMC10258816