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Infectious Agents as Potential Drivers of α‐Synucleinopathies
Author(s) -
Linard Morgane,
Ravier Alix,
Mougué Louisa,
Grgurina Iris,
Boutillier AnneLaurence,
FoubertSamier Alexandra,
Blanc Frédéric,
Helmer Catherine
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
movement disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.352
H-Index - 198
eISSN - 1531-8257
pISSN - 0885-3185
DOI - 10.1002/mds.28925
Subject(s) - synucleinopathies , dementia with lewy bodies , dementia , neuroscience , parkinson's disease , atrophy , disease , medicine , alpha synuclein , biology , pathology
α‐synucleinopathies, encompassing Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy, are devastating neurodegenerative diseases for which available therapeutic options are scarce, mostly because of our limited understanding of their pathophysiology. Although these pathologies are attributed to an intracellular accumulation of the α‐synuclein protein in the nervous system with subsequent neuronal loss, the trigger(s) of this accumulation is/are not clearly identified. Among the existing hypotheses, interest in the hypothesis advocating the involvement of infectious agents in the onset of these diseases is renewed. In this article, we aimed to review the ongoing relevant factors favoring and opposing this hypothesis, focusing on (1) the potential antimicrobial role of α‐synuclein, (2) potential entry points of pathogens in regard to early symptoms of diverse α‐synucleinopathies, (3) pre‐existing literature reviews assessing potential associations between infectious agents and Parkinson's disease, (4) original studies assessing these associations for dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy (identified through a systematic literature review), and finally (5) potential susceptibility factors modulating the effects of infectious agents on the nervous system. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society