Virally encoded single-chain antibody fragments targeting alpha-synuclein protect against motor impairments and neuropathology in a mouse model of synucleinopathy.

A recent preprint article from biorxiv.org discusses the potential of single-chain antibody fragments (scFvs) in treating Parkinson's disease (PD). The study aimed to demonstrate the ability of extracellular scFvs to slow down the propagation of pathological alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in a mouse model of synucleinopathy. The researchers generated scFvs that target aSyn and tested them in a PD mouse model. The results showed that the scFvs protected against the development of paralysis and limb weakness, reduced pathologic aggregates of phosphorylated aSyn in the brain, and mitigated aSyn spreading in human dopaminergic neurons. The findings suggest that scFvs have strong therapeutic potential in treating Lewy body diseases. However, it is important to note that this preprint has not been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]