Human microglia clear intraneuronal α-synuclein aggregates by GPNMB-mediated trogocytosis.

Human microglia clear intraneuronal α-synuclein aggregates via GPNMB-mediated trogocytosis, a process crucial for potential Parkinson's disease therapies.

• Why it matters: Understanding microglial roles in early Parkinson's disease is vital, as they can be both harmful and beneficial, but mechanisms of aggregate clearance remain unclear.
• What they did: Using iPSC-derived coculture models, the study examined microglial responses to α-synuclein aggregates, identifying GPNMB as a key effector in lysosomal clearance through single-cell sequencing and gene knockdown experiments.
• The result: GPNMB facilitates aggregate removal by microglia, and its modulation influences clearance efficiency, highlighting a potential target for therapeutic intervention in Parkinson's disease.