Human α-synuclein overexpression in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease leads to vascular pathology, blood brain barrier leakage and pericyte activation

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 13;11(1):1120. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80889-8.

Abstract

The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the formation of Lewy bodies containing aggregated alpha-synuclein (α-syn). Although PD is associated with these distinct histological changes, other pathological features such as microvascular alterations have been linked to neurodegeneration. These changes need to be investigated as they create a hostile brain microenvironment and may contribute to the development and progression of the disease. We use a human α-syn overexpression mouse model that recapitulates some of the pathological features of PD in terms of progressive aggregation of human α-syn, impaired striatal dopamine fiber density, and an age-dependent motor deficit consistent with an impaired dopamine release. We demonstrate for the first time in this model a compromised blood-brain barrier integrity and dynamic changes in vessel morphology from angiogenesis at earlier stages to vascular regression at later stages. The vascular alterations are accompanied by a pathological activation of pericytes already at an early stage without changing overall pericyte density. Our data support and further extend the occurrence of vascular pathology as an important pathophysiological aspect in PD. The model used provides a powerful tool to investigate disease-modifying factors in PD in a temporal sequence that might guide the development of new treatments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / pathology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier / physiopathology*
  • Corpus Striatum / blood supply*
  • Corpus Striatum / metabolism
  • Corpus Striatum / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Dopamine / metabolism
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Motor Activity
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Parkinson Disease / pathology*
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*
  • Pericytes / pathology
  • Pericytes / physiology*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • alpha-Synuclein / genetics*
  • alpha-Synuclein / metabolism

Substances

  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • SNCA protein, human
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Dopamine