Journal of Neuroscience, reveal that brain cells with Lewy bodies display a distinct pattern of gene expression that resembles a fingerprint related to the disease. This discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s disease and offers potential avenues for future research and therapeutic interventions.
The journal Nature Communications has revealed that brain cells containing Lewy bodies have a specific gene expression pattern that resembles a disease-related fingerprint. “We have known for a long time that Lewy bodies are involved in Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, but there are still many unanswered questions. Why are some cells more susceptible to Lewy bodies than others? How do Lewy bodies actually impact cells?” said VAI Assistant Professor Michael Henderson, Ph.D., the corresponding author of the study. “Our findings are an important starting point for better understanding how cells respond to Lewy bodies, which is an area of great potential.”
Researchers have discovered that Lewy bodies, which are abnormal protein clumps, can lead to cellular dysfunction and cell death in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia. The loss of these cells is linked to the symptoms of these diseases.
With the help of new technology, specifically spatial transcriptomics, Henderson and his team were able to compare brain cells with Lewy bodies to those without in great detail. They found a pattern that involves genes affecting important brain health processes, such as critical cellular functions.
The research focused on the impact of Lewy bodies on key processes in the brain, such as cellular communication, energy regulation, cellular waste removal, and inflammation. The study involved both preclinical models and cells from individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
Lead researcher Henderson stated that the findings suggest that cells containing Lewy bodies can influence other cells and brain processes. The next step is to investigate the specific molecular pathways disrupted by Lewy bodies in order to identify potential protective mechanisms.
The study was conducted by Thomas M. Goralski, M.S., Lindsay Meyerdirk, M.S., Libby Breton, M.S., Laura Brasseur, Kevin Kurgat, Daniella DeWeerd, Lisa Turner, Katelyn Becker, M.S., and Marie Adams, M.S. from VAI, along with Daniel Ne.The research was made possible by the contributions of NanoString Technologies’ whouse, Ph.D., as well as the support of VAI’s Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, Genomics Core, Optical Imaging Core, Pathology and Biorepository Core, and Vivarium Core. The individuals and families who donated tissue also played a crucial role in this work. Brain tissue for the research was provided by the Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program.
