NIH R01 · 2025
PROJECT SUMMARY. Accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) protein aggregates in brain neurons is thought to play a causal role in Parkinson's disease (PD). There is mounting evidence that the gut is a source of α-syn aggregates in the brain; however, the factors involved remain incompletely understood, limiting development of treatments to prevent PD. We propose a gut microbiota-mediated mechanism of α-syn aggregation. In the brain, α-syn aggregation results when oxidative stress within the host transforms iron and dopamine into a toxic pair. This toxic pair kills dopamine-producing neurons, decreasing dopamine levels and causing motor dysfunction. We hypothesize that in the gut, the…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.