Parkinson’s may start decades ago – your immune system may know first

For people with autoimmune disease, the interaction of T -cells is a big problem. Haywire T cell responses lead to autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

In recent years, scientists at the La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI) have discovered that the cells may also contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers at Professor Alyssandro Sette, Dr.biol.sci. , That many people with Parkinson’s disease have T cells that target the main proteins, called Alpha-SYNUClein and PINK1, on the brain cells at risk.

Earlier this year, City and his colleagues published a study in NPJ Parkinson disease Which sheds light on the exact sub -types of T -cells targeting alpha synoclians. Other results were provided that the interaction of T -cells plays a role in Parkinson’s disease. However, scientists did not have a timetable to show when T cells might contribute to the development of the disease.

“We can see these interactive T cells in people after Parkinson’s development, but what happens before that?” The world of visiting Lji Emil Johansson, Ph.D., researcher at the Sette Laboratory and co -author of the study.

Now we have answers. In new NPJ Parkinson disease Paper, Sette and its colleagues explain that the interaction of harmful T cells is the highest during the “Budriyah” period in Parkinson – over the years before the patients diagnosed.

“These T cell immunity can be a sign of Parkinson’s early treatment, even before people appear symptoms,” says City, who was a great author in the new newspaper. “There is a reason for the belief that Parkinson’s treatment in the very early stages can lead to a better result.”

How did the study worked

The Budrais period in Parkinson’s disease can continue for decades before a person develops noticeable symptoms such as tremors and cognitive weakness.

Since Parkinson’s Baduri’s disease is difficult to discover, the LJI team has studied the interaction of T cells in research volunteers at a great risk of Parkinson’s disease. These volunteers had genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s company and some of them had symptoms such as broken REM bedrooms and loss of smell, which could be early signs of the development of Parkinson’s disease.

The researchers used a technique called Fluorospot to learn more about T -cells in blood samples from study volunteers. This technology revealed the volunteers who have high levels of T-cells whose reaction was to alpha Senoclin or PINK1-and when these T cell numbers were higher.

Sette and his colleagues found that harmful T -cells that are likely to appear early, before the noticeable symptoms of the mobility appear, such as tremors. “You can see that the interaction of T cells before diagnosis,” says City.

In fact, the interaction of T cells with PINK1 was at the highest level ever before the diagnosis.

City warns against jumping to the conclusions. Parkinson’s is a complex disease, and the new research does not prove that the cells already lead the inflammation associated with Parkinson’s disease.

“Parkinson’s disease is associated with the destruction of the cells of the nervous system,” City says.

“Certainly, the fact that these T -cell interaction is higher when patients are closest to the diagnosis of interest,” City adds. “The result indicates that the cells can be related to it.”

The following steps to help patients

The new research may direct the development of early diagnostic tools. Meanwhile, LJI scientists are looking for ways to prevent inflammation and protect brain cells.

As Johansson explains, some T cells help in contact with inflammation again to protect our tissues. “We want to see if there are specific T cells that are preventive,” says Johansson. “Can it interfere with inflammation and may reduce the number of autoimmune T cells?”

Sette and its colleagues also understand the role of T -cells in other neurological degenerative diseases.

“We are very interested in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, for example, as a lot of progress has been made towards identifying people in very early stages of the development of the disease,” says City.

Among the additional authors of the study, “T cells’ responses towards PINK1 and α-synuclein in Parkinson’s Badri disease,” the first author included Antoine Froit, Gregory B. Williams, Tanner Michels, April Fraser, Irene Litavan, Jennifer J. Goldman, Roy N. A. Ronald B. Postoma, John Sydney, David Solzer, and Cecilia S.

This study was supported by Lji & Kyowa Kirin, Inc. (KKNA- Kyowa Kirin North America), the Swedish Research Council (Grant References 2024-00175), science alignment via Parkinsonon (ASAP -00035), and Michael J. Fox Foundation.