Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Jakobsson

Activation of transposable elements as a trigger of neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease

2020-Present

This study will seek to determine whether transposable elements are active in tissues from patients with Parkinson’s disease and whether this activity can induce inflammation in the nervous system. We will first look for evidence of transposable element activity using single-cell RNA sequencing of tissues from people with Parkinson’s disease. This particular experiment will also allow us to determine whether patient cells that show more transposable element activity also show increased signs of inflammation. Because cells of the central nervous system (neurons, astrocytes and microglia) can be grown in a laboratory culture system, we can also test whether manipulations that induce transposable element activity in these cells also causes an immune response that would result in inflammation. This would suggest that blocking transposon activity could block inflammation.

Tags
Neuroinflammation Transposable elements

Leadership

Johan Jakobsson

Johan Jakobsson

Lead PI (Core Leadership)

Roger Barker

Roger Barker

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Molly Gale Hammell

Molly Gale Hammell

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Agnete Kirkeby

Agnete Kirkeby

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Laura Castilla-Vallmanya

Laura Castilla-Vallmanya

Project Manager

Project Highlights

View All

Genome-wide determinants of mortality and clinical progression in Parkinson’s disease

There are 90 independent genome-wide significant genetic risk variants for Parkinson’s disease (PD) but currently only five nominated loci for PD progression. The biology of PD progression is likely to be of central importance in defining mechanisms that can be used to develop new treatments. We studied 6766 PD patients, over 15,340 visits with a mean follow-up of between 4.2...

Contributions

Here is an overview of how this team’s article findings have contributed to the PD field as of June 2025. There are two different categorizations of these contributions – one by impact to the PD community and a second by scientific category.

Impact

Category

Accolades

Members of the team have been recognized for their contributions.

Team Jakobsson

Open Science Champions

Oliver Tam

Awards

2023 Collaborative Meeting

COSA Prize Winners 2024

Network Spotlights

Shaline Fazal, Oliver Tam

In the News

Updates will be posted when available.

Our Research Teams

Members of the CRN work diligently to advance our understanding of Parkinson’s disease. Learn more about recent CRN discoveries and achievements.

Explore the Research Community