Targeting α-synuclein for PD Therapeutics: A Pursuit on All Fronts

• Main Authors: Margaux Teil, Marie-Laure Arotcarena, Emilie Faggiani, Florent Laferriere, Erwan Bezard, Benjamin Dehay
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Biomolecules
• Subjects: parkinson’s disease, α-synuclein; neurodegeneration; therapy; aggregation
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/3/391

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized both by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy Bodies. These Lewy Bodies contain the aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) protein, which has been shown to be able to propagate from cell to cell and throughout different regions in the brain. Due to its central role in the pathology and the lack of a curative treatment for PD, an increasing number of studies have aimed at targeting this protein for therapeutics. Here, we reviewed and discussed the many different approaches that have been studied to inhibit α-syn accumulation via direct and indirect targeting. These analyses have led to the generation of multiple clinical trials that are either completed or currently active. These clinical trials and the current preclinical studies must still face obstacles ahead, but give hope of finding a therapy for PD with time.