A multiverse of α-synuclein: investigation of prion strain properties with carboxyl-terminal truncation specific antibodies in animal models

Abstract

Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the presence of misfolded α-Synuclein (αSyn) in the brain. These conditions manifest with diverse clinical and pathophysiological characteristics. This disease diversity is hypothesized to be driven by αSyn strains with differing biophysical properties, potentially influencing prion-type propagation and consequentially the progression of illness. Previously, we investigated this hypothesis by injecting brain lysate (seeds) from deceased individuals with various synucleinopathies or human recombinant αSyn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into transgenic mice overexpressing either wild type or A53T human αSyn. In the studies herein, we expanded on these experiments, utilizing a panel of antibodies specific for the major carboxyl-terminally truncated forms of αSyn (αSynΔC). These modified forms of αSyn are found enriched in human disease brains to inform on potential strain-specific proteolytic patterns. With monoclonal antibodies specific for human αSyn cleaved at residues 103, 114, 122, 125, and 129, we demonstrate that multiple system atrophy (MSA) seeds and PFFs induce differing neuroanatomical spread of αSyn pathology associated with host specific profiles. Overall, αSyn cleaved at residue 103 was most widely present in the induced pathological inclusions. Furthermore, αSynΔC-positive inclusions were present in astrocytes, but more frequently in activated microglia, with patterns dependent on host and inoculum. These findings support the hypothesis that synucleinopathy heterogeneity might stem from αSyn strains with unique biochemical properties that include proteolytic processing, which could result in dominant strain properties.