Alpha-synuclein and skin
Protein Responsible for Parkinson's Disease causes Skin to Age
Tatiana Matveeva, "Scientific Russia"
A study conducted on a model of reconstructed human skin showed that the formation of clusters of proteins, which, as already known, damage neurons, cause skin aging and loss of sensitivity, reports EurekAlert!. The results of the study appeared in the journal Neurobiology of Aging (Oliveira et al., Oligomeric α-Synuclein induces skin degeneration in reconstructed human epidermis).
The team of scientists found that aggregates of the alpha-synuclein protein cause thinning of the epidermis – the outer layer of the skin – because they cause inflammation and slow down cell division. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that gathers in clusters in the brain and damages certain areas of it, which leads to Parkinson's disease. "Now we have discovered that this same protein can accumulate in the skin and cause degeneration similar to aging," notes Marília Saluar Guimarães from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Perhaps proteins accumulate faster under the influence of ultraviolet light and the source of protein is the sensory neurons themselves, the authors add.
According to the study, accumulations of alpha-synuclein can also affect the neurons in the skin responsible for transmitting sensory sensations to the brain. Reducing the sensitivity of aging skin has psychological consequences. Moreover, sensory impairment can directly affect the quality of life. For example, the perception of temperature or texture changes decreases, which exposes people to additional risks.
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