α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 March 2026 | Viewed by 1
Special Issue Editors
2. IRCCS Neuromed, Via Atinense 18, 86077 Isernia, Italy
Interests: α-synuclein; Parkinson’s disease; protein aggregation; lipid–protein interactions; tau co-pathology; disease heterogeneity; non-invasive biofluid; detection techniques
2. Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Interests: neurodegenerative diseases; movement disorders
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Alpha-synuclein is a central pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD), but increasing evidence suggests that its pathological effects emerge through a complex interplay with other cellular components and molecular pathways. Previous studies have highlighted how interactions between alpha-synuclein and lipids, tau, and other aggregation-prone proteins can modulate its misfolding, aggregation kinetics, and cell-to-cell propagation, contributing to selective neuronal vulnerability and the pathological heterogeneity observed in PD subtypes. Altered lipid homeostasis, disrupted proteostasis, and impaired intracellular trafficking are among the key cellular processes affected by alpha-synuclein dysfunction.
This Special Issue invites original research and reviews that dissect the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying alpha-synuclein toxicity, including its interactions with membranes, organelles (e.g., endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria), and other protein aggregates. We also encourage studies investigating how these insights relate to clinical variability, with particular interest in early-stage prognostic differentiation. Contributions exploring the detection of alpha-synuclein species in non-invasive biofluids and their potential as biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic response monitoring are especially welcome.
By integrating molecular and cellular perspectives, this Special Issue aims to refine our understanding of alpha-synuclein-driven pathology in PD and foster the development of mechanism-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Maria Ilenia De Bartolo
Dr. Matteo Costanzo
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- α-synuclein
- protein aggregation
- neurodegeneration
- Parkinson’s disease
- clinical subtypes
- biomarkers
- detection techniques
- disease heterogeneity
- prognostic stratification
- translational neuroscience
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