Home › Research › Inflammation and the immune system
Clearance and deposition of extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates in microglia
Lee HJ, Suk JE, Bae EJ, Lee SJ.. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 2008-05-19
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Abnormal deposition of alpha-synuclein in neurons and glia is implicated in many neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies. Recently, evidence has emerged that this protein and its aggregates are secreted from neuronal cells, and this extracellular protein may contribute to the pathogenic process. Here, we show that all the major brain cell types (neurons, astrocytes, and microglia) are capable of clearing the extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates by internalization and degradation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Lee, H. J., Suk, J. E., Bae, E. J., & Lee, S. J. (2008). Clearance and deposition of extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates in microglia. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.045
Vancouver
Lee HJ, Suk JE, Bae EJ, Lee SJ. Clearance and deposition of extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates in microglia. Biochemical and biophysical research communications. 2008. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.045. PMID: 18492487.
BibTeX
@article{lee2008-18492487,
author = {Lee, H. J. and Suk, J. E. and Bae, E. J. and Lee, S. J.},
title = {{Clearance and deposition of extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates in microglia}},
journal = {Biochemical and biophysical research communications},
year = {2008},
doi = {10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.045},
pmid = {18492487},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.05.045}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Recently, evidence has emerged that this protein and its aggregates are secreted from neuronal cells, and this extracellular protein may contribute to the pathogenic process.
- Here, we show that all the major brain cell types (neurons, astrocytes, and microglia) are capable of clearing the extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates by internalization and degradation.
- Among these cell types, microglia showed the highest rate of degradation.
- Upon activation by lipopolysaccharide, the degradation of the internalized alpha-synuclein aggregates was slowed, causing protein accumulation in the microglial cytoplasm.
Why it matters
This laboratory study shows that neurons, astrocytes and microglia can clear extracellular alpha-synuclein aggregates, with microglia degrading them fastest, and that LPS activation slowed degradation. It concerns alpha-synuclein, linked to Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, and reports no Alzheimer's treatment or outcome.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Biochemical and biophysical research communications) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications: journal h-index 393 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2008 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 342 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.1 citations a year over 20 year(s) since 2008 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 48 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Seung‐Jae Lee: h-index 63 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Konkuk University: institution h-index 383 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 18492487) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Related
Studies in the library that share something with this one. The line above each title says what.
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
Later studies that cite this one
5 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.
Related studies in Inflammation and the immune system
Also tagged “tdp-43”
1,150 studies in the library carry the topic tag “tdp-43”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,150 tagged studies.