Objective: i.To determine if post-translationally modified phosphorylated α-synuclein levels are altered in the peripheral blood of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients compared to control subjects. ii.To determine if inflammatory mediators are dysregulated in the peripheral blood of PD patients compared to control subjects.

Background: The molecular mechanisms of PD etiopathogenesis and its progression remain elusive. Inflammatory transcripts and peripheral immune cell infiltration in post-mortem PD brains indicate the involvement of peripheral blood inflammation. Recent in vitro and animal experiments demonstrate potency of misfolded α-synuclein to trigger Nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP-3) inflammasome activation. Therefore, NLRP-3 inflammasome activation in the peripheral blood of PD patients may act as a potential indicator of disease progression in PD.

Methods: PD patients (n=27) and age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (n=15) were recruited from the hospital outpatient department following inclusion criteria. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the participants. Post-translationally modified phosphorylated α-synuclein levels were estimated by ELISA. NLRP-3 inflammasome activation was determined by estimating NLRP-3 and IL-1β levels by ELISA.

Results: Phosphorylated α-synuclein levels were not statistically different (p=0.07) between PD and controls (unpaired student t test). Compared to controls, PD patients showed significant elevation of serum NLRP3 inflammasome (p = 0.0008) and IL-1β levels (p =0.0019).

Conclusions: Alpha-synuclein in the peripheral blood are yet to be proven as a reliable biomarker in PD. The findings from this study indicate consistent inflammasome signalling with dysregulation of proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in the peripheral blood of PD patients. Thus, inflammatory processes and mediators in PD might serve as potential peripheral biomarkers of PD.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/peripheral-inflammatory-mediators-in-parkinsons-disease-a-potential-biomarker/