Microglia-specific overexpression of α-synuclein leads to severe dopaminergic neurodegeneration by phagocytic exhaustion and oxidative toxicity

Abstract

Whether microglial activation constitutes a primary pathological event in synucleinopathies is not known. Here, the authors generated a mouse model over-expressing α-synuclein in microglial cells and found these mice developed progressive dopaminergic neuron degeneration and microglia developed a reactive, pro-inflammatory state with phagocytic exhaustion.