Role of alpha-synuclein in the mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy. Implications for Parkinson`s disease

MARTINEZ JH; KOTLER ML; GOROJOD RM; ALAIMO A

Mar del Plata

Congreso; LXI ANNUAL MEETING ARGENTINE SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (SAIC); 2016

ARGENTINE SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (SAIC)

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative pathology of the central nervous system affecting 1% of the population over 60 years old. This disease is characterized by motor deficiency, rest tremor, and the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons of the Substantia Nigra Pars Compacta. One of the key molecule involved in PD development is a small protein named α-synuclein. In pathological conditions, α-synuclein is overexpressed and associated to mitochondria. This interaction could trigger the mitochondrial impairment and reactive oxygen species generation both events involved in PD. This study hypothesized that α-synuclein impairs the mitochondrial function involving processes such as metabolic imbalance, mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy. The present work studied the effect of this protein in SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing a-synuclein. We proved that this protein diminished cell viability (34±5%and 31±7% vs control, p