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Research Overview

My lab is interested in the neuroimmune axis in brain disorders termed ‘synucleinopathies’, which includes Parkinson’s disease. As the fastest growing neurological disorder, Parkinson’s is a global health issue.

My research has a particular focus on the α-蝉测苍耻肠濒别颈苍 protein in brain and immune cells. As the main component of the pathological hallmark of disease, Lewy bodies, this small protein has received intense research effort. Microglia, the immune cells of the central nervous system, take up α-蝉测苍耻肠濒别颈苍 and this can be a protective mechanism. However, if the protein builds up microglia will release more proinflammatory cytokines, causing a decrease or blockage in the uptake. This can contribute to neuroinflammation and is either disease causing and/or will worsen the disease outcome.

In addition to microglia, T cells react to forms of α-蝉测苍耻肠濒别颈苍 and are present in the Parkinson’s disease brain. Taken together, the brain immune cells (microglia) and peripheral immune system (ex. T cells) both interact and are affected by α-蝉测苍耻肠濒别颈苍. Whether this is a catalyst for increased neuroinflammation and further detrimental effects on neurons is unclear.

We aim to investigate these processes using in vitro and in vivo human-based models of both brain and periphery, as well as longitudinal collection of patient samples. Our overarching goals are to correlate disease mechanism to patient disease state and create novel models to study inflammation in neurodegenerative disease.

Check back in December for our website: https://wp.lancs.ac.uk/neuroimmune-synuclein/