Topic: co-aggregation

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein within the neuronal cytoplasm. These pathological aggregates are toxic to neurons and are released upon their cell death. Interestingly, recent evidence has indicated co-aggregation of alpha-synuclein with the Alzheimer’s-associated protein Tau. This co-aggregation correlates with faster disease progression and more severe Parkinson’s symptoms.Microglia are the resident innate immune cells of the brain. They are the first line of immune defense and responsible for the removal of cytotoxic protein aggregates