Anionic nanoplastic contaminants promote Parkinson's disease-associated α-synuclein aggregation

Sci Adv. 2023 Nov 15;9(46):eadi8716. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adi8716. Epub 2023 Nov 17.

Abstract

Recent studies have identified increasing levels of nanoplastic pollution in the environment. Here, we find that anionic nanoplastic contaminants potently precipitate the formation and propagation of α-synuclein protein fibrils through a high-affinity interaction with the amphipathic and non-amyloid component (NAC) domains in α-synuclein. Nanoplastics can internalize in neurons through clathrin-dependent endocytosis, causing a mild lysosomal impairment that slows the degradation of aggregated α-synuclein. In mice, nanoplastics combine with α-synuclein fibrils to exacerbate the spread of α-synuclein pathology across interconnected vulnerable brain regions, including the strong induction of α-synuclein inclusions in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. These results highlight a potential link for further exploration between nanoplastic pollution and α-synuclein aggregation associated with Parkinson's disease and related dementias.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dopaminergic Neurons / metabolism
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Microplastics
  • Parkinson Disease* / metabolism
  • alpha-Synuclein* / metabolism

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Microplastics