New Perspective Explores Hidden α-Synuclein Pathology Using Proximity Ligation Assay
The Jensen group at DANDRITE are pleased to share that their invited Scientific Perspective “Seeing Invisible Oligomers: Rethinking α-Synuclein Pathology Through Proximity Ligation Assay” has now been published online in Movement Disorders Journal.
The article follows up on the important recent work from Nanna Møller Jensen together with Hiroaki Sekiya and Prof. Dennis Dickson from the Mayo Clinic, which demonstrates a substantial burden of α-synuclein oligomers in Lewy body–negative LRRK2 mutation carriers using the proximity ligation assay (PLA) technique.
Their findings highlight how disease-relevant pathology may extend beyond what conventional histology can detect.
In the article, the authors discuss:
- The principles behind α-synuclein PLA and how antibody-based oligomer assays work.
- Current antibody used in PLA, including the aggregate-selective MJFR14-6-4-2 antibody.
- What PLA studies reveal about the spatial and temporal development of oligomer pathology.
- How these species may relate to Lewy bodies and underlying aggregate structure.
- The potential of PLA-detected oligomers as biomarkers for diagnosis, stratification, and treatment response in synucleinopathies.