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Pathological alpha-synuclein propagates through neural networks
Masuda-Suzukake M, Nonaka T, Hosokawa M, Kubo M, Shimozawa A, Akiyama H, Hasegawa M.. Acta neuropathologica communications, 2014-08-06
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Background α-Synuclein is the major component of filamentous inclusions that constitute the defining characteristic of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy, so-called α-synucleinopathies. Recent studies revealed that intracerebral injection of recombinant α-synuclein fibrils into wild-type mouse brains induced prion-like propagation of hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein pathology. However, the propagation mechanisms of α-synuclein have not been fully elucidated.
Key findings
- Recent studies revealed that intracerebral injection of recombinant α-synuclein fibrils into wild-type mouse brains induced prion-like propagation of hyperphosphorylated α-synuclein pathology.
- However, the propagation mechanisms of α-synuclein have not been fully elucidated.
- Results In this study, in order to establish where and how α-synuclein pathology propagates, we injected recombinant mouse α-synuclein fibrils into three different brain areas (substantia nigra, striatum, and entorhinal cortex) of wild-type mice and compared the resulting distributions of α-synuclein pathology at 1 month after injection.
- Distinct patterns of pathology were observed in mice injected at the different sites.
Why it matters
This study injected recombinant mouse alpha-synuclein fibrils into mouse brains to study how alpha-synuclein pathology propagates through neural networks. It is animal research on a mechanism relevant to alpha-synucleinopathies and does not test a treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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 (Acta neuropathologica communications) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Acta Neuropathologica Communications: journal h-index 129 (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 | 2014 — 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 242 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.3 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 36 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Masato Hasegawa: h-index 97 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science: institution h-index 400 (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 25095794) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s40478-014-0088-8
- PubMed: 25095794
- Original source →
- Free full text: Acta Neuropathologica Communications →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Masuda-Suzukake, M., Nonaka, T., Hosokawa, M., Kubo, M., Shimozawa, A., Akiyama, H., et al. (2014). Pathological alpha-synuclein propagates through neural networks. Acta neuropathologica communications. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-014-0088-8
Vancouver
Masuda-Suzukake M, Nonaka T, Hosokawa M, Kubo M, Shimozawa A, Akiyama H, et al. Pathological alpha-synuclein propagates through neural networks. Acta neuropathologica communications. 2014. doi:10.1186/s40478-014-0088-8. PMID: 25095794.
BibTeX
@article{masudasuzukake2014-25095794,
author = {Masuda-Suzukake, M. and Nonaka, T. and Hosokawa, M. and Kubo, M. and Shimozawa, A. and Akiyama, H. and Hasegawa, M.},
title = {{Pathological alpha-synuclein propagates through neural networks}},
journal = {Acta neuropathologica communications},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1186/s40478-014-0088-8},
pmid = {25095794},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-014-0088-8}
}
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