Parkinson's Protein May Spur Immune Response | WPN World People News

A protein known to accumulate in Parkinson's disease and other degenerative brain disorders activates the brain's immune defenses, researchers say.

The protein is called a-synuclein. The researchers noted that diseases such as Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia are characterized by the abnormal accumulation of this protein. The immune response appears to increase inflammation.

The researchers said the high blood pressure drug candesartan and an experimental drug both reduce the immune response triggered by the protein. But much more research is needed on these findings.

"We have made important progress in understanding how a-synuclein sets up the chronic brain inflammation that is a hallmark of these diseases," expert said.

The normal role of a-synuclein is unclear, but it is known that the protein can quickly change its structural shape -- "misfold" -- and become toxic. Misfolded a-synuclein can activate cells that provide the main immune defense in the central nervous system.

"The real job of [these immune cells] is to keep the brain healthy by getting rid of pathogens as well as cellular debris," Maguire-Zeiss said. "However, in a diseased state [these immune cells] can become chronically activated, leading to a continuous onslaught of inflammation which is damaging to the brain."

Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services