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Chalatsa et al. Neuroimmunol Neuroinflammation 2020;7:132-40 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-8659.2020.01 Page 137

experimental approaches involve the assessment of α-synuclein in neural exosomes. The discoveries of
pathogenic misfolded proteins such as α-synuclein in them has generated intensive research into their use
as biomarkers considering that they carry proteins with disease-specific fingerprints reflecting the presence
and staging of the disease. However, in order to further verify this potential we need to have a very good
understanding of the actual mechanisms behind their biogenesis and release. Importantly, we need to have
those tools in place that will assist us in the identification of the α-synuclein species responsible for disease
generation and pathology progression. The fact that exosomal cargo mirrors the state of the cell from which
[79]
it originates unravels the promising role of the plasma/CSF -derived exosomes as potential biomarkers.
Proteomic profiling of exosomal proteins in PD patients with different disease stages and healthy subjects
may also aid the identification of specific protein changes that occur in response to pathology progression.
Finally, modulating exosome biogenesis and release may have a promising prospect in PD therapy.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
Contributed to the writing of the manuscript and in its revision: Chalatsa I, Melachroinou K,
Emmanouilidou E, Vekrellis K

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
None.

Conflicts of interest
All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020.

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