Investigating the role of gut macrophages in mediating alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson's disease

Our gut has its own unique immune cells that are vital for a healthy and functional gut nervous system. In Parkinson's disease (PD), focus is being centered on the gut's nervous system as we see early aggregation of toxic alpha-synuclein there to further 'travel' or spread to the brain, where it contributes to loss of specific nerve cells. This raises the question of how gut immune cells respond to toxic alpha-synuclein, contribute to gut dysfunction (constipation) and further toxic spreading in PD. I will study how dysfunctional immune cells in the nervous systems of the gut and brain contribute to toxic alpha-synuclein progression. I will use mouse models of PD to study the role of these immune cells and cutting-edge tools to examine how and when these cells become dysfunctional. Targeting these cells and interactions with neurons could alter the course of PD by preventing early alpha-synuclein pathology and spread.