PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY AS A MARKER OF SYNUCLEINOPATHIC DISEASE

摘要

The invention provides methods of screening for agents useful in treating or prophylaxis of synucleinopathic disease, methods of diagnosis or prognosis of the same and methods of treatment and prophylaxis. The invention is based in part on the result that cells with phagocytic activity from subjects with synucleinopathic disease have increased levels of alpha synuclein and reduced phagocytic activity and that these processes can be reversed (i.e., synuclein levels decreased and phagocytic levels increased) by treatment with IL-4 among other agents. The increase in phagocytic activity is readily amenable to detection and provides a basis for a screening assay in which an agent is contacted with phagocytic cells and the effect of the agent on phagocytic activity is detected, which is an indicator that the agent has the ability to reduce alpha synuclein levels. The reduced levels of phagocytic activity, optionally in combination with increased intracellular levels of alpha synuclein also provides a basis for diagnostic, prognostic or monitoring assays indicating presence, susceptibility, severity or response to treatment of synucleinopathic disease.