Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Alpha Synuclein In Hematopoiesis And Immunity, Robert W. Maitta
Alpha Synuclein In Hematopoiesis And Immunity, Robert W. Maitta
Faculty Scholarship
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative condition and intracellular deposition of Lewy bodies in the substantia nigra (SN), which can cause dopaminergic neuronal death, is the hallmark of this syndrome. α-synuclein (syn) is a small protein expressed mainly in neurons but can also be found in a number of tissues. It can be present as a soluble monomer under normal physiological conditions, but can be toxic in its oligomeric or fibrillary forms. Most of the available literature has focused on the effects of α-syn pathology in the mechanisms leading to PD. However, the normal functions of α-syn …
Ultrastructural Changes In Peripheral Blood Leukocytes In Α-Synuclein Knockout Mice, Hammad Tashkandi, Afshin Shameli, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
Ultrastructural Changes In Peripheral Blood Leukocytes In Α-Synuclein Knockout Mice, Hammad Tashkandi, Afshin Shameli, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
Faculty Scholarship
Effects of α-synuclein deficiency on cellular blood components have not been extensively investigated. This study evaluated ultrastructural changes of leukocytes in α-synuclein knockout (KO) mice using electron microscopy (EM). The following ultrastructural characteristics were quantified in leukocytes: mitochondria, primary granules, specific granules (SG), Golgi apparatus (GA), inclusions, rough-endoplasmic reticulum (RER), smooth-endoplasmic reticulum (SER), and cellular projections (CP). EM showed increased numbers or amounts of SG, inclusions, and SER in KO group (5.3 ± 4.5 in WT vs. 14.1 ± 10.3 in KO, p = 0.02; 0.4 ± 0.9 in WT vs. 3.2 ± 2.8 in KO, p = 0.007; and …
Α-Synuclein Concentration Increases Over Time In Plasma Supernatant Of Single Donor Platelets, Catherine M. Stefaniuk, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
Α-Synuclein Concentration Increases Over Time In Plasma Supernatant Of Single Donor Platelets, Catherine M. Stefaniuk, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
Faculty Scholarship
OBJECTIVES: In platelets, α-synuclein is important in calcium-dependent granule release. Notably, cells release α-synuclein in setting of cell damage or death. Therefore, we investigated α-synuclein levels in plasma of single donor platelet (SDP) units during storage. METHODS: Aliquots were obtained from same SDP units for 7 days from day of donation. Additionally, randomly sampled SDP units at same storage time points were also assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: α-Synuclein in SDP plasma increased continuously over time at each assayed time point. Significant increases were measured on day 3 (11.7 ± 9.6 ng/mL, P = 0.025), day 5 (15.3 ± …
A Critical Role For Alpha-Synuclein In Development And Function Of T Lymphocytes, Afshin Shameli, Wenbin Xiao, Yan Zheng, Susan Shyu, John Sumodi, Howard J. Meyerson, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
A Critical Role For Alpha-Synuclein In Development And Function Of T Lymphocytes, Afshin Shameli, Wenbin Xiao, Yan Zheng, Susan Shyu, John Sumodi, Howard J. Meyerson, Clifford V. Harding, Robert W. Maitta
Faculty Scholarship
Alpha-synuclein is highly expressed in the central nervous system and plays an important role in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. Previous studies have demonstrated the expression of α-synuclein in hematopoietic elements and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, although its roles in hematopoiesis and adaptive immunity are not studied. Using an α-synuclein knock out (KO) mouse model, we have recently shown that α-synuclein deficiency is associated with a mild defect in late stages of hematopoiesis. More importantly, we demonstrated a marked defect in B lymphocyte development and IgG, but not IgM production in these mice. …
Late Stages Of Hematopoiesis And B Cell Lymphopoiesis Are Regulated By Α-Synuclein, A Key Player In Parkinson's Disease, Wenbin Xiao, Afshin Shameli, Clifford V. Harding, Howard J. Meyerson, Robert W. Maitta
Late Stages Of Hematopoiesis And B Cell Lymphopoiesis Are Regulated By Α-Synuclein, A Key Player In Parkinson's Disease, Wenbin Xiao, Afshin Shameli, Clifford V. Harding, Howard J. Meyerson, Robert W. Maitta
Faculty Scholarship
α-Synuclein plays a crucial role in Parkinson's disease and dementias defined as synucleinopathies. α-Synuclein is expressed in hematopoietic and immune cells, but its functions in hematopoiesis and immune responses are unknown. We utilized α-synuclein(-/-) (KO) mice to investigate its role in hematopoiesis and B cell lymphopoiesis. We demonstrated hematologic abnormalities including mild anemia, smaller platelets, lymphopenia but relatively normal early hematopoiesis in KO mice compared to wild-type (WT) as measured in hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors of the different cell lineages. However, the absolute number of B220(+)IgM(+) B cells in bone marrow was reduced by 4-fold in KO mice (WT: …