α-Synuclein-specific T cell reactivity is associated with preclinical and early Parkinson’s disease

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15626-w
• Publication Date: 2020-04-20T10:03:07Z
• Authors: Cecilia S. Lindes...; Rekha Dhanwani; John Pham; Rebecca Kuan; April Frazier; Juliana Rezende D...; Elizabeth Phillips; Simon Mallal; Mario Roederer; Karen S. Marder; Amy W. Amara; David G. Standaert; Jennifer G. Goldman; Irene Litvan; Bjoern Peters; David Sulzer; Alessandro Sette
• Keywords: Pathogenesis; Reactivity

Abstract A diagnosis of motor Parkinson’s disease (PD) is preceded by a prolonged premotor phase with accumulating neuronal damage. Here we examined the temporal relation between α-synuclein (α-syn) T cell reactivity and PD. longitudinal case study revealed that elevated α-syn-specific responses were detected prior to PD, declined after. The relationship early PD in two independent cohorts showed highest shortly after then decreased. Additional analysis significant association age lower levodopa equivalent dose. These results confirm presence α-syn-reactive cells show they are most abundant immediately may be present years before suggesting avenues investigation into pathogenesis potential diagnosis.