Satellite Meeting of the 23^rd ISN Biennial Meeting:

From genes to pathogenesis: The evolving spectrum of syncleinopathies

Organisers:

Leonidas Stefanis, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , University of Athens;

Poul Henning Jensen, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , University of Aarhus;

Philipp Kahle, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , University of Tubingen;

Kostas Vekrellis, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens

Date: from 3-4/09/11 (Saturday to Sunday)

Outline of Scientific Content:

In recent years there has been an explosion of new knowledge in the field of the genetics of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and related disorders.  Alpha-synuclein appears to hold a central piece in the puzzle of PD pathogenesis, as it is linked genetically and neuropathologically not only with the familial, but also with the sporadic disease.  Furthermore, alpha-synuclein is aberrantly deposited in a number of other neurodegenerative diseases, collectively termed synucleinopathies. The understanding of how alpha-synuclein is linked to the numerous other genetic and environmental causes of PD will no doubt present a tremendous step forward in deciphering the pathogenesis of the disease.  We plan to organize a satellite meeting that will give center stage to alpha-synuclein neurobiology, but will also examine the other genes linked to PD and their interrelationship.  We envision the following sessions: a) Function and regulation of alpha-synuclein, b) Aberrant effects of alpha-synuclein, c) The other dominant gene: LRRK2, how is it linked to alpha-synuclein? d) The recessive genes: Parkin, DJ-1, PINK-1: How are they linked to alpha-synuclein?, e) Glucocerebroside, Nurr-1 and Tau: How are they linked to synucleinopathies? f) Putting it all together in the context of sporadic synucleinopathies: from risk factors to neuropathology to the patient.