A Review of Stearoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase in Parkinson’s Disease: Linking Lipid Metabolism to α-Synuclein Aggregation

Author: Hussain Haider
Affiliation: Cambridge Centre for International Research (CCIR)

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Abstract:

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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein (αS), forming Lewy bodies. Growing evidence suggests that lipid composition plays an important role in αS aggregation, with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) promoting its pathological accumulation.  Stearoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase (SCD), which is an enzyme that is responsible for converting saturated fatty acids (SFAs) into MUFAs, is involved in neurodegeneration. Higher SCD activity alters membrane lipid composition, increasing membrane fluidity and could enhance αS binding and aggregation. On the other hand, SCD inhibition has shown neuroprotective effects in preclinical studies, hinting at a possible involvement in PD treatments. This review presents the relationship between SCD activity, lipid metabolism, and αS aggregation, gathering evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies. By analyzing the links between SCD and αS pathology, this paper aims to clarify its role in PD progression and explore the effects of targeting SCD in neurodegenerative diseases.

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Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, α-synuclein aggregation, Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), lipid metabolism, neurodegeneration, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), saturated fatty acids (SFAs)​

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ISSN 3069-8200