%0 Journal Article
%T Alpha-synuclein and RNA viruses: Exploring the neuronal nexus.
%A Gupta A
%A Bohara VS
%A Siddegowda YB
%A Chaudhary N
%A Kumar S
%J Virology
%V 597
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 15
%M 38917691
%F 3.513
%R 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110141
%X Alpha-synuclein (α-syn), known for its pivotal role in Parkinson's disease, has recently emerged as a significant player in neurotropic RNA virus infections. Upregulation of α-syn in various viral infections has been found to impact neuroprotective functions by regulating neurotransmitter synthesis, vesicle trafficking, and synaptic vesicle recycling. This review focuses on the multifaceted role of α-syn in controlling viral replication by modulating chemoattractant properties towards microglial cells, virus-induced ER stress signaling, anti-oxidative proteins expression. Furthermore, the text underlines the α-syn-mediated regulation of interferon-stimulated genes. The review may help suggest potential therapeutic avenues for mitigating the impact of RNA viruses on the central nervous system by exploiting α-syn neuroprotective biology.