The couple of netrin-1/α-Synuclein regulates the survival of dopaminergic neurons via α-Synuclein disaggregation

BMB Rep. 2023 Feb;56(2):126-131. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2023-0004.

Abstract

The abnormal accumulation and aggregation of the misfolded α-synuclein protein is the neuropathological hallmark of all α-synucleinopathies, including Parkinson's disease. The secreted proteins known as netrins (netrin-1, netrin-3, and netrin-4) are related to laminin and have a role in the molecular pathway for axon guidance and cell survival. Interestingly, only netrin-1 is significantly expressed in the substantia nigra (SN) of healthy adult brains and its expression inversely correlates with that of α-synuclein, which prompted us to look into the role of α-synuclein and netrin-1 molecular interaction in the future of dopaminergic neurons. Here, we showed that netrin-1 and α-synuclein directly interacted in pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) generation test, real time binding assay, and co-immunoprecipitation with neurotoxin treated cell lysates. Netrin-1 deficiency appeared to activate the dopaminergic neuronal cell death signal pathway via α-synuclein aggregation and hyperphosphorylation of α-synuclein S129. Taken together, netrin-1 can be a promising therapeutic molecule in Parkinson's disease. [BMB Reports 2023; 56(2): 126-131].

Publication types

  • News

MeSH terms

  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Netrin-1 / metabolism
  • Parkinson Disease* / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • alpha-Synuclein* / metabolism

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Netrin-1

Grants and funding

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. 2022R1C1C1006166) and Hallym University Research Fund, 2021 (HRF-202103-009) to E. H. A. We thank S.S.K. for excellent technical assistance for animal model.