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Altay MF, Kumar ST, Burtscher J, Jagannath S, Strand C, Miki Y, Parkkinen L, Holton JL, Lashuel HA. Development and validation of an expanded antibody toolset that captures alpha-synuclein pathological diversity in Lewy body diseases. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:161. [PMID: 38062007 PMCID: PMC10703845 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The abnormal aggregation and accumulation of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) in the brain is a defining hallmark of synucleinopathies. Various aSyn conformations and post-translationally modified forms accumulate in pathological inclusions and vary in abundance among these disorders. Relying on antibodies that have not been assessed for their ability to detect the diverse forms of aSyn may lead to inaccurate estimations of aSyn pathology in human brains or disease models. To address this challenge, we developed and characterized an expanded antibody panel that targets different sequences and post-translational modifications along the length of aSyn, and that recognizes all monomeric, oligomeric, and fibrillar aSyn conformations. Next, we profiled aSyn pathology across sporadic and familial Lewy body diseases (LBDs) and reveal heterogeneous forms of aSyn pathology, rich in Serine 129 phosphorylation, Tyrosine 39 nitration and N- and C-terminal tyrosine phosphorylations, scattered both to neurons and glia. In addition, we show that aSyn can become hyperphosphorylated during processes of aggregation and inclusion maturation in neuronal and animal models of aSyn seeding and spreading. The validation pipeline we describe for these antibodies paves the way for systematic investigations into aSyn pathological diversity in the human brain, peripheral tissues, as well as in cellular and animal models of synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melek Firat Altay
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Human Genetics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Senthil T Kumar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Burtscher
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Somanath Jagannath
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Catherine Strand
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, England
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, England
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, 036-8562, Japan
| | - Laura Parkkinen
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Janice L Holton
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, England
| | - Hilal A Lashuel
- Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Arlinghaus R, Iba M, Masliah E, Cookson MR, Landeck N. Specific Detection of Physiological S129 Phosphorylated α-Synuclein in Tissue Using Proximity Ligation Assay. JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2023; 13:255-270. [PMID: 36847016 PMCID: PMC10041430 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-213085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders that are pathologically characterized by intracellular aggregates called Lewy bodies. Lewy bodies are primarily composed of α-synuclein (asyn) protein, which is mostly phosphorylated at serine 129 (pS129) when aggregated and therefore used as a marker for pathology. Currently commercial antibodies against pS129 asyn stain aggregates well but in healthy brains cross react with other proteins, thus making it difficult to specifically detect physiological pS129 asyn. OBJECTIVE To develop a staining procedure that detects endogenous and physiological relevant pS129 asyn with high specificity and low background. METHODS We used the fluorescent and brightfield in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) to specifically detect pS129 asyn in cell culture, mouse, and human brain sections. RESULTS The pS129 asyn PLA specifically stained physiological and soluble pS129 asyn in cell culture, mouse brain sections, and human brain tissue without significant cross-reactivity or background signal. However, this technique was not successful in detecting Lewy bodies in human brain tissue. CONCLUSION We successfully developed a novel PLA method that can, in the future, be used on in vitro and in vivo samples as a tool to explore and better understand the cellular localization and function of pS129 asyn in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Arlinghaus
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Michiyo Iba
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institutes on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institutes on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Mark R. Cookson
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Natalie Landeck
- Cell Biology and Gene Expression Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Raj A, Kaushal A, Datta I. Impact of monomeric and aggregated wild-type and A30P/A53T double-mutant α-synuclein on antioxidant mechanism and glutamate metabolic profile of cultured astrocytes. J Neurosci Res 2021; 100:681-706. [PMID: 34904280 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Serving as a source of glutathione and up-taking and metabolizing glutamate are the primary supportive role of astrocytes for the adjacent neurons. Despite the clear physical association between astrocytes and α-synuclein, the effect of extracellular α-synuclein on these astrocytic functions has not yet been elucidated. Hence, we aim to assess the effect of various forms of α-synuclein on antioxidant mechanism and glutamate metabolism. Wild-type and A53T/A30P double-mutant α-synuclein, both in monomeric and aggregated forms, were added extracellularly to media of midbrain rat astrocyte culture, with their survival, oxidative, and nitrative stress, glutathione and glutamate content, expression of enzymes associated with oxidative stress and glutamate metabolism, glutamate and glutathione transporters being assessed along with the association/engulfment of these peptides by astrocytes. A30P/A53T peptide associated more with astrocytes, and low-extracellular K+ concentration showed prominent reduction in the engulfment of the monomeric forms, suggesting that the association of the aggregated forms was greater with the membrane. The peptide-associated astrocytes showed lower survival and increased oxidative stress generation, owing to the decrease in nuclear localization of Nrf2 and increase in iNOS, and further aggravated by the decrease in glutathione content and related enzymes like glutathione synthetase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase. Glutamate uptake increased in aggregate-treated cells due to the increase in GLAST1 expression, de novo synthesis of glutamate by pyruvate carboxylase, and/or glutamine synthase, bolstered by the differential glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme activity. We thus show for the first time that extracellular α-synuclein exposure leads to astrocytic dysfunction with respect to the antioxidant mechanism and glutamate metabolic profile. The impact was higher in the case of the aggregated and mutated peptide, with the highest dysfunction for the mutant aggregated α-synuclein treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Raj
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Institute of National Importance, Bengaluru, India
| | - Alka Kaushal
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Institute of National Importance, Bengaluru, India
| | - Indrani Datta
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Institute of National Importance, Bengaluru, India
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Singh S, Khayachi A, Milnerwood AJ, DeMarco ML. Quantitative Profiling of Synuclein Species: Application to Transgenic Mouse Models of Parkinson's Disease. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 10:613-621. [PMID: 32083592 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-191835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Improved analytical tools for detailed characterization of synucleins in pre-clinical models of Parkinson's disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies are needed. OBJECTIVE Develop a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay to quantify species-specific sequences and structural heterogeneity in soluble α- and β-synucleins in brain tissue. METHODS Using a proteolytic digestion workflow, the MRM LC-MS/MS method assayed six proteotypic peptides from the α-synuclein sequence; three unique to mouse or human α-synuclein and three conserved in α- and β-synuclein. For quantification, we used labeled α-synuclein as the internal standard and an external calibration curve. As proof of concept, the synuclein LC-MS/MS method was applied to brain tissue specimens from M83 transgenic PD mice, which overexpresses human α-synuclein, relative to wild-type littermate controls. RESULTS The synuclein MRM assay was linear over a wide concentration range (at least one order of magnitude). The assay had several advantages over ligand binding analytical methods, such as western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. These advantages included the ability to: quantify 1) total α-synuclein, 2) combined α- and β-synucleins, 3) species-specific contributions to total α-synuclein (e.g., in mice expressing both mouse and human α-synuclein), and 4) identify peptide-specific profile differences that may reflect post-translational modifications, all within a single analysis. CONCLUSION With improved and expanded analytical characteristics coupled with a streamlined sample preparation workflow, the quantitative synuclein profiling LC-MS/MS assay provides a versatile and efficient platform to characterize synuclein biology in pre-clinical models and the potential for application to human tissues and fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Singh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Anouar Khayachi
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Austen J Milnerwood
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mari L DeMarco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, St. Paul's Hospital, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, Canada
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Flores-Cuadrado A, Saiz-Sanchez D, Mohedano-Moriano A, Lamas-Cenjor E, Leon-Olmo V, Martinez-Marcos A, Ubeda-Bañon I. Astrogliosis and sexually dimorphic neurodegeneration and microgliosis in the olfactory bulb in Parkinson's disease. NPJ PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 7:11. [PMID: 33479244 PMCID: PMC7820595 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-020-00154-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hyposmia is prodromal, and male sex is a risk marker for an enhanced likelihood ratio of Parkinson’s disease. The literature regarding olfactory bulb volume reduction is controversial, although the olfactory bulb has been largely reported as an early and preferential site for α-synucleinopathy. These pathological deposits have been correlated with neural loss in Nissl-stained material. However, microgliosis has rarely been studied, and astrogliosis has been virtually neglected. In the present report, α-synucleinopathy (α-synuclein), neurodegeneration (Neu-N), astrogliosis (GFAP), and microgliosis (Iba-1) were quantified, using specific markers and stereological methods. Disease, sex, age, disease duration, and post-mortem interval were considered variables for statistical analysis. No volumetric changes have been identified regarding disease or sex. α-Synucleinopathy was present throughout the OB, mainly concentrated on anterior olfactory nucleus. Neurodegeneration (reduction in Neu-N-positive cells) was statistically significant in the diseased group. Astrogliosis (increased GFAP labeling) and microgliosis (increased Iba-1 labeling) were significantly enhanced in the Parkinson’s disease group. When analyzed per sex, neurodegeneration and microgliosis differences are only present in men. These data constitute the demonstration of sex differences in neurodegeneration using specific neural markers, enhanced astrogliosis and increased microgliosis, also linked to male sex, in the human olfactory bulb in Parkinson’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Flores-Cuadrado
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Daniel Saiz-Sanchez
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alicia Mohedano-Moriano
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45600, Talavera de la Reina, Spain
| | - Elena Lamas-Cenjor
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Victor Leon-Olmo
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Alino Martinez-Marcos
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Isabel Ubeda-Bañon
- Neuroplasticity & Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Ciudad Real Medical School, CRIB, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Vaikath NN, Hmila I, Gupta V, Erskine D, Ingelsson M, El-Agnaf OMA. Antibodies against alpha-synuclein: tools and therapies. J Neurochem 2019; 150:612-625. [PMID: 31055836 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy are characterized by the abnormal accumulation and propagation of α-synuclein (α-syn) pathology in the central and peripheral nervous system as Lewy bodies or glial cytoplasmic inclusions. Several antibodies against α-syn have been developed since it was first detected as the major component of Lewy bodies and glial cytoplasmic inclusions. Over the years, researchers have generated specific antibodies that alleviate the accumulation of intracellular aggregated α-syn and associated pathology in cellular and preclinical models of synucleinopathies. So far, antibodies have been the first choice as tools for research and diagnosis and currently, a wide variety of antibody fragments have been developed as an alternative to full-length antibodies for increasing its therapeutic usefulness. Recently, conformation specific antibody-based approaches have been found to be promising as therapeutic strategies, both to block α-syn aggregation and ameliorate the resultant cytotoxicity, and as diagnostic tools. In this review, we summarize different α-syn specific antibodies and provide their usefulness in tackling synucleinopathies. This article is part of the Special Issue "Synuclein".
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant N Vaikath
- Neurological Disorder Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Issam Hmila
- Neurological Disorder Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Vijay Gupta
- Neurological Disorder Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Daniel Erskine
- Institute of Neuroscience, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Martin Ingelsson
- Department of Public Health/Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Omar M A El-Agnaf
- Neurological Disorder Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
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Veys L, Vandenabeele M, Ortuño-Lizarán I, Baekelandt V, Cuenca N, Moons L, De Groef L. Retinal α-synuclein deposits in Parkinson's disease patients and animal models. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 137:379-395. [PMID: 30721408 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-018-01956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite decades of research, accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease remains a challenge, and disease-modifying treatments are still lacking. Research into the early (presymptomatic) stages of Parkinson's disease and the discovery of novel biomarkers is of utmost importance to reduce this burden and to come to a more accurate diagnosis at the very onset of the disease. Many have speculated that non-motor symptoms could provide a breakthrough in the quest for early biomarkers of Parkinson's disease, including the visual disturbances and retinal abnormalities that are seen in the majority of Parkinson's disease patients. An expanding number of clinical studies have investigated the use of in vivo assessments of retinal structure, electrophysiological function, and vision-driven tasks as novel means for identifying patients at risk that need further neurological examination and for longitudinal follow-up of disease progression in Parkinson's disease patients. Often, the results of these studies have been interpreted in relation to α-synuclein deposits and dopamine deficiency in the retina, mirroring the defining pathological features of Parkinson's disease in the brain. To better understand the visual defects seen in Parkinson's disease patients and to propel the use of retinal changes as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease, however, more conclusive neuropathological evidence for the presence of retinal α-synuclein aggregates, and its relation to the cerebral α-synuclein burden, is urgently needed. This review provides a comprehensive and critical overview of the research conducted to unveil α-synuclein aggregates in the retina of Parkinson's disease patients and animal models, and thereby aims to aid the ongoing discussion about the potential use of the retinal changes and/or visual symptoms as biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.
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Yan F, Chen Y, Li M, Wang Y, Zhang W, Chen X, Ye Q. Gastrointestinal nervous system α-synuclein as a potential biomarker of Parkinson disease. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e11337. [PMID: 29995769 PMCID: PMC6076112 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000011337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lewy bodies (LB) play an essential role in the development, survival, and function maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons in Parkinson disease (PD). Alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein) is the major component of Lewy bodies and is a potential target for Parkinson's disease (PD) therapies. α-synuclein can be detected in the gastrointestinal (GI) nervous system, but whether there is any association between altered α-synuclein expression in the GI nervous system and the onset of PD is not known. The answer to this question presents the opportunity for a promising biomarker in the pre-clinical diagnosis of PD. As such, this study aimed to measure the α-synuclein level in the GI nervous system of Parkinson's disease patients.The protein levels of α-synuclein in the GI nervous system of 31 PD patients (PD group) and 32 patients without PD or Parkinsonism-plus syndrome (control group) were evaluated via immunohistochemical staining. The χ test was performed to evaluate the differences between the PD group and control group. In addition to the distribution of α-synuclein positive protein, regional distribution of the protein in the stomach was also evaluated across groups.Alpha synuclein overexpression was found in the GI nervous tissue of PD patients. The PD group included 17 positive results and 14 negative results. The control group exhibited 7 positive results and 24 negative results. The χ test showed that χ = 7.255, P = .01. The distribution of these positive cases in the gastrointestinal system, the χ test showed that P = .949. The 21 stomach tissues had 7 α-synuclein positive protein tissues, while the body of stomach (4 α-synuclein positive protein) was higher than in other regions.Aberrant expression of α-synuclein was detected in the GI tissues of PD patients, though the distribution of α-synuclein in the gastrointestinal tract had no specificity. Gastrointestinal mucous biopsy could be regarded as a potential opportunity for the early-stage diagnostic exploration of PD, through the detection of α-synuclein inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fudong Yan
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
- Hospital of Fujian Shunchang
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
| | - Min Li
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
| | - Yingqing Wang
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
| | - Wenmin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Xiaochun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qinyong Ye
- Department of Neurology, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
- Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Peripheral and central autonomic nervous system: does the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system bear the brunt of the pathology during the course of sporadic PD? Cell Tissue Res 2018; 373:267-286. [PMID: 29869180 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2851-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
It is a well-established fact that the sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous systems are affected at early stages in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, it is not yet clarified whether the earliest pathological events preferentially occur in any of these three divisions of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Significant involvement of the peripheral autonomic nervous system of the heart and gastrointestinal tract has been documented in PD. Accumulating evidence suggests that the PD pathology spreads centripetally from the peripheral to central nervous system through autonomic nerve fibers, implicating the ANS as a major culprit in PD pathogenesis and a potential target for therapy. This study begins with a brief overview of the structures of the central and peripheral autonomic nervous system and then outlines the major clinicopathological manifestations of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disturbances in PD.
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Ruffmann C, Bengoa-Vergniory N, Poggiolini I, Ritchie D, Hu MT, Alegre-Abarrategui J, Parkkinen L. Detection of alpha-synuclein conformational variants from gastro-intestinal biopsy tissue as a potential biomarker for Parkinson's disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 44:722-736. [PMID: 29676021 PMCID: PMC6282510 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Aims Gastrointestinal (GI) α‐synuclein (aSyn) detection as a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease (PD) is challenged by conflicting results of recent studies. To increase sensitivity and specificity, we applied three techniques to detect different conformations of aSyn in GI biopsies obtained from a longitudinal, clinically well‐characterized cohort of PD patients and healthy controls (HC). Methods With immunohistochemistry (IHC), we used antibodies reactive for total, phosphorylated and oligomeric aSyn; with aSyn proximity ligation assay (AS‐PLA), we targeted oligomeric aSyn species specifically; and with paraffin‐embedded tissue blot (AS‐PET‐blot) we aimed to detect fibrillary, synaptic aSyn. Results A total of 163 tissue blocks were collected from 51 PD patients (113 blocks) and 21 HC (50 blocks). In 31 PD patients, biopsies were taken before the PD diagnosis (Prodromal); while in 20 PD patients biopsies were obtained after diagnosis (Manifest). The majority of tissues blocks were from large intestine (62%), followed by small intestine (21%), stomach (10%) and oesophagus (7%). With IHC, four staining patterns were detected (neuritic, ganglionic, epithelial and cellular), while two distinct staining patterns were detected both with AS‐PLA (cellular and diffuse signal) and with AS‐PET‐blot (aSyn‐localized and pericrypt signal). The level of agreement between different techniques was low and no single technique or staining pattern reliably distinguished PD patients (Prodromal or Manifest) from HC. Conclusions Our study suggests that detection of aSyn conformational variants currently considered pathological is not adequate for the diagnosis or prediction of PD. Future studies utilizing novel ultrasensitive amyloid aggregation assays may increase sensitivity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ruffmann
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - N Bengoa-Vergniory
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - I Poggiolini
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - D Ritchie
- National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, Deanery of Clinical Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M T Hu
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - J Alegre-Abarrategui
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - L Parkkinen
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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Gámez-Valero A, Beyer K. Alternative Splicing of Alpha- and Beta-Synuclein Genes Plays Differential Roles in Synucleinopathies. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9020063. [PMID: 29370097 PMCID: PMC5852559 DOI: 10.3390/genes9020063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The synuclein family is composed of three members, two of which, α- and β-synuclein, play a major role in the development of synucleinopathies, including Parkinson’s disease (PD) as most important movement disorder, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) as the second most frequent cause of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease and multiple system atrophy. Whereas abnormal oligomerization and fibrillation of α-synuclein are now well recognized as initial steps in the development of synucleinopathies, β-synuclein is thought to be a natural α-synuclein anti-aggregant. α-synuclein is encoded by the SNCA gene, and β-synuclein by SNCB. Both genes are homologous and undergo complex splicing events. On one hand, in-frame splicing of coding exons gives rise to at least three shorter transcripts, and the functional properties of the corresponding protein isoforms are different. Another type of alternative splicing is the alternative inclusion of at least four initial exons in the case of SNCA, and two in the case of SNCB. Finally, different lengths of 3’ untranslated regions have been also reported for both genes. SNCB only expresses in the brain, but some of the numerous SNCA transcripts are also brain-specific. With the present article, we aim to provide a systematic review of disease related changes in the differential expression of the various SNCA and SNCB transcript variants in brain, blood, and non-neuronal tissue of synucleinopathies, but especially PD and DLB as major neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gámez-Valero
- Department of Pathology, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Katrin Beyer
- Department of Pathology, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, Badalona, 08916 Barcelona, Spain.
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Førland MG, Öhrfelt A, Oftedal LS, Tysnes OB, Larsen JP, Blennow K, Zetterberg H, Alves G, Lange J. Validation of a new assay for α-synuclein detection in cerebrospinal fluid. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 55:254-260. [DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2016-0409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBackground:Abnormal α-synuclein aggregation and deposition is the pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but is also found in Alzheimer disease (AD). Therefore, there is a gaining interest in α-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as potential biomarker for these neurodegenerative diseases. To broaden the available choices of α-synuclein measurement in CSF, we developed and validated a new assay for detecting total α-synuclein.Methods:This novel ELISA uses commercially available antibodies and is based on electrochemiluminescence technology. The assay protocol is straightforward, with short and simple incubation steps, and requires only small amounts of CSF. We validated this assay for precision, parallelism, dilution linearity, specificity, and spike recovery. We further compared it to the newly validated α-synuclein assay from BioLegend by analyzing a set of 50 CSF samples with both assays.Results:The new assay quantifies α-synuclein in CSF with a lower limit of detection of 36.3 pg/mL and shows no cross-reactivity with human β- and γ-synuclein. Results of dilution linearity, parallelism, spike recovery, and precision classify this assay as well suited for α-synuclein detection in human CSF samples.Conclusions:We present a novel assay based on freely available components to quantify total α-synuclein in CSF as an additional method for α-synuclein as a biomarker in neurodegenerative diseases. The assay convinces with its simple and convenient protocol paired with high sensitivity.
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The neural chaperone proSAAS blocks α-synuclein fibrillation and neurotoxicity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4708-15. [PMID: 27457957 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1601091113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence strongly suggests that chaperone proteins are cytoprotective in neurodegenerative proteinopathies involving protein aggregation; for example, in the accumulation of aggregated α-synuclein into the Lewy bodies present in Parkinson's disease. Of the various chaperones known to be associated with neurodegenerative disease, the small secretory chaperone known as proSAAS (named after four residues in the amino terminal region) has many attractive properties. We show here that proSAAS, widely expressed in neurons throughout the brain, is associated with aggregated synuclein deposits in the substantia nigra of patients with Parkinson's disease. Recombinant proSAAS potently inhibits the fibrillation of α-synuclein in an in vitro assay; residues 158-180, containing a largely conserved element, are critical to this bioactivity. ProSAAS also exhibits a neuroprotective function; proSAAS-encoding lentivirus blocks α-synuclein-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of nigral dopaminergic neurons, and recombinant proSAAS blocks α-synuclein-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. Four independent proteomics studies have previously identified proSAAS as a potential cerebrospinal fluid biomarker in various neurodegenerative diseases. Coupled with prior work showing that proSAAS blocks β-amyloid aggregation into fibrils, this study supports the idea that neuronal proSAAS plays an important role in proteostatic processes. ProSAAS thus represents a possible therapeutic target in neurodegenerative disease.
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Stokholm MG, Danielsen EH, Hamilton-Dutoit SJ, Borghammer P. Pathological α-synuclein in gastrointestinal tissues from prodromal Parkinson disease patients. Ann Neurol 2016; 79:940-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.24648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Morten Gersel Stokholm
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
| | | | | | - Per Borghammer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus Denmark
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Peelaerts W, Baekelandt V. ɑ-Synuclein strains and the variable pathologies of synucleinopathies. J Neurochem 2016; 139 Suppl 1:256-274. [PMID: 26924014 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Several decades ago, a mysterious transmissible agent was found responsible for a group of progressive and lethal encephalopathies affecting the nervous system of both animals and humans. This infectious agent showed a strain-encoded manner of inheritance even though it lacked nucleic acids. The identification of infectious proteins resolved this apparent conundrum. Misfolded infectious protein particles, or prions, were found to exist as conformational isomers with a unique fingerprint that can be faithfully passaged to next generations. Protein-based strain-encoded inheritance is characterized by strain-specific infectivity and symptomatology. It is found in diverse organisms, such as yeast, fungi, and mammals. Now, this concept is revisited to examine the pathological role of amyloid proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases where it might underlie certain types of dementia and motor-related neurodegenerative disorders. Given the discovery of the SNCA gene and the identification of its gene product, ɑ-synuclein (ɑ-SYN), as the main histopathological component of Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy, the scientific community was left puzzled by the fact that a single protein appeared to be involved in different diseases with diverging clinical phenotypes. Recent studies are now indicating that ɑ-SYN may act in a way similar to prions and that ɑ-SYN misfolded structural variants may behave as strains with distinct biochemical and functional properties inducing specific phenotypic traits, which might finally provide an explanation for the clinical heterogeneity observed between Parkinson's disease, MSA, and dementia with Lewy bodies patients. These crucial new findings may pave the way for unexplored therapeutic avenues and identification of new potential biomarkers. Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies share ɑ-synuclein deposits as a common histopathological hallmark. New and ongoing developments are now showing that variations in the aggregation process and the formation of ɑ-synuclein strains may be paralleled by the development of distinct synucleinopathies. Here, we review the recent developments and the role of strains in synucleinopathies. This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Peelaerts
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Ruffmann C, Parkkinen L. Gut Feelings About α-Synuclein in Gastrointestinal Biopsies: Biomarker in the Making? Mov Disord 2016; 31:193-202. [PMID: 26799450 PMCID: PMC4755164 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, several studies have investigated the potential of immunohistochemical detection of α-synuclein in the gastrointestinal tract to diagnose Parkinson's disease (PD). Although methodological heterogeneity has hindered comparability between studies, it has become increasingly apparent that the high sensitivity and specificity reported in preliminary studies has not been sustained in subsequent large-scale studies. What constitutes pathological α-synuclein in the alimentary canal that could distinguish between PD patients and controls and how this can be reliably detected represent key outstanding questions in the field. In this review, we will comment on and compare the variable technical aspects from previous studies, and by highlighting some advantages and shortcomings we hope to delineate a standardized approach to facilitate the consensus criteria urgently needed in the field. Furthermore, we will describe alternative detection techniques to conventional immunohistochemistry that have recently emerged and may facilitate ease of interpretation and reliability of gastrointestinal α-synuclein detection. Such techniques have the potential to detect the presence of pathological α-synuclein and include the paraffin-embedded tissue blot, the proximity ligation assay, the protein misfolding cyclic amplification technique, and the real-time quaking-induced conversion assay. Finally, we will review 2 nonsynonymous theories that have driven enteric α-synuclein research, namely, (1) that α-synuclein propagates in a prion-like fashion from the peripheral nervous system to the brain via vagal connections and (2) that gastrointestinal α-synuclein deposition may be used as a clinically useful biomarker in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Ruffmann
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Academic Unit of Neuropathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Parkkinen
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Academic Unit of Neuropathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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17
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Nam MK, Han JH, Jang JY, Yun SE, Kim GY, Kang S, Rhim H. A novel link between the conformations, exposure of specific epitopes, and subcellular localization of α-synuclein. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2015; 1850:2497-505. [PMID: 26391842 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic studies and the abundance of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) in presynaptic terminals suggest that α-Syn plays a critical role in maintaining synaptic vesicle pools. However, there are still few experimental tools for elucidating its physiological roles. METHODS Unexpectedly, we detected various cellular distribution patterns of endogenous α-Syn by immunofluorescence assays (IFAs). To provide new molecular insights into α-Syn research, we identified associations between epitopes, conformations, and subcellular localization of α-Syn and categorized them. RESULTS The α-Syn exposing Y125 was found to coexist with F-actin at the edge of the cells, including the plasma membrane. α-Syn conformations exposing P128 or both F94 and K97 were partly localized to the mitochondria. These results indicate that various conformations of α-Syn are associated with specific subcellular localizations. Intriguingly, we demonstrate for the first time that the phosphorylated α-Syn at Ser129, also known as a Parkinson's disease (PD)-causing form, is targeted to the mitochondria. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that different subcellular distribution patterns of α-Syn reflect the existence of various α-Syn conformations under normal conditions. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This study provides novel clues for deciphering the physiological function of α-Syn in connection with subcellular localization. Dissecting the specific α-Syn conformations may lead to useful strategies in PD therapy and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Kyung Nam
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Han
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Ja-Young Jang
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Si-Eun Yun
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Goo-Young Kim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongman Kang
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 136-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyangshuk Rhim
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea; Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Aldecoa I, Navarro-Otano J, Stefanova N, Sprenger FS, Seppi K, Poewe W, Cuatrecasas M, Valldeoriola F, Gelpi E, Tolosa E. Alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity patterns in the enteric nervous system. Neurosci Lett 2015; 602:145-9. [PMID: 26163460 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to compare immunoreactivity patterns of four different anti-α-syn antibodies in surgical specimens of the gastrointestinal tract of Parkinson disease and control cases. Surgical specimens from stomach, small and large bowel of 6 PD cases and 12 controls were studied. Primary antibodies: anti-α-syn clone KM51, anti-phosphorylated α-syn Ser129, anti-α-syn clone 15G7 and anti-nitrated α-syn505. We found different immunoreactivity patterns: (a) coarse, Lewy-body-like aggregates labelled by the 4 antibodies and detected in 4/6 PD cases and in 1/12 controls; (b) distinct punctate cytoplasmic staining of ganglion cells labelled by anti-phosphorylated-α-syn and detected in 3/6 PD cases and 3/12 controls; (c) fine diffuse, synaptic-type staining of neural structures labelled by anti-α-syn-15G7 and anti-nitrated-α-syn505 and detected in all subjects. We conclude that different specific and non-specific immunoreactivity patterns are detected in surgical specimens of gastrointestinal tract when using different anti-α-syn antibodies, as they recognize different epitopes and states of alpha-synuclein protein. Coarse aggregates in neural structures seem to be the most promising marker for the diagnosis of Lewy-body parkinsonism when evaluating abnormal α-syn in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Judith Navarro-Otano
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit Neurology Service Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Klaus Seppi
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Werner Poewe
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Miriam Cuatrecasas
- Department of Pathology, Barcelona, Spain; Tumour Bank of the Biobank, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Valldeoriola
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit Neurology Service Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ellen Gelpi
- Neurological Tissue Bank of the Biobank, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Tolosa
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit Neurology Service Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; Centro en Red para la Investigación de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas CIBERNED, Spain.
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19
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Vaikath NN, Majbour NK, Paleologou KE, Ardah MT, van Dam E, van de Berg WDJ, Forrest SL, Parkkinen L, Gai WP, Hattori N, Takanashi M, Lee SJ, Mann DMA, Imai Y, Halliday GM, Li JY, El-Agnaf OMA. Generation and characterization of novel conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies for α-synuclein pathology. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 79:81-99. [PMID: 25937088 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2014] [Revised: 04/22/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-syn), a small protein that has the intrinsic propensity to aggregate, is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA), which are collectively known as synucleinopathies. Genetic, pathological, biochemical, and animal modeling studies provided compelling evidence that α-syn aggregation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of PD and related synucleinopathies. It is therefore of utmost importance to develop reliable tools that can detect the aggregated forms of α-syn. We describe here the generation and characterization of six novel conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies that recognize specifically α-syn aggregates but not the soluble, monomeric form of the protein. The antibodies described herein did not recognize monomers or fibrils generated from other amyloidogenic proteins including β-syn, γ-syn, β-amyloid, tau protein, islet amyloid polypeptide and ABri. Interestingly, the antibodies did not react to overlapping linear peptides spanning the entire sequence of α-syn, confirming further that they only detect α-syn aggregates. In immunohistochemical studies, the new conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies showed underappreciated small micro-aggregates and very thin neurites in PD and DLB cases that were not observed with generic pan antibodies that recognize linear epitope. Furthermore, employing one of our conformation-specific antibodies in a sandwich based ELISA, we observed an increase in levels of α-syn oligomers in brain lysates from DLB compared to Alzheimer's disease and control samples. Therefore, the conformation-specific antibodies portrayed herein represent useful tools for research, biomarkers development, diagnosis and even immunotherapy for PD and related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant N Vaikath
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, BMC A10, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nour K Majbour
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katerina E Paleologou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Mustafa T Ardah
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Esther van Dam
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wilma D J van de Berg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Shelley L Forrest
- Discipline of Pathology, Charles Perkin Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Laura Parkkinen
- Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Wei-Ping Gai
- Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Australia
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Research for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan; Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Masashi Takanashi
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Seung-Jae Lee
- Neuroscience Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Korea
| | - David M A Mann
- Clinical and Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, University of Manchester, Salford Royal Foundation NHS Trust, Salford M6 8HD, UK
| | - Yuzuru Imai
- Department of Research for Parkinson's Disease, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales and Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jia-Yi Li
- Neural Plasticity and Repair Unit, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, BMC A10, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Omar M A El-Agnaf
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; College of Science, Engineering and Technology, HBKU, Education City, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
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20
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Flores-Cuadrado A, Ubeda-Bañon I, Saiz-Sanchez D, de la Rosa-Prieto C, Martinez-Marcos A. α-Synuclein staging in the amygdala of a Parkinson's disease model: cell types involved. Eur J Neurosci 2014; 41:137-46. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Flores-Cuadrado
- Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad y Neurodegeneración; Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Avda Moledores S/N 13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Isabel Ubeda-Bañon
- Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad y Neurodegeneración; Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Avda Moledores S/N 13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Daniel Saiz-Sanchez
- Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad y Neurodegeneración; Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Avda Moledores S/N 13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Carlos de la Rosa-Prieto
- Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad y Neurodegeneración; Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Avda Moledores S/N 13005 Ciudad Real Spain
| | - Alino Martinez-Marcos
- Laboratorio de Neuroplasticidad y Neurodegeneración; Facultad de Medicina de Ciudad Real; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas; Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha; Avda Moledores S/N 13005 Ciudad Real Spain
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21
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Neuropathological assessments of the pathology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP43-positive inclusions: an inter-laboratory study by the BrainNet Europe consortium. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2014; 122:957-72. [PMID: 25239189 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-014-1304-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The BrainNet Europe consortium assessed the reproducibility in the assignment of the type of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP) 43 following current recommendations. The agreement rates were influenced by the immunohistochemical (IHC) method and by the classification strategy followed. p62-IHC staining yielded good uniform quality of stains, but the most reliable results were obtained implementing specific Abs directed against the hallmark protein TDP43. Both assessment of the type and the extent of lesions were influenced by the Abs and by the quality of stain. Assessment of the extent of the lesions yielded poor results repeatedly; thus, the extent of pathology should not be used in diagnostic consensus criteria. Whilst 31 neuropathologists typed 30 FTLD-TDP cases, inter-rater agreement ranged from 19 to 100 per cent, being highest when applying phosphorylated TDP43/IHC. The agreement was highest when designating Type C or Type A/B. In contrast, there was a poor agreement when attempting to separate Type A or Type B FTLD-TDP. In conclusion, we can expect that neuropathologist, independent of his/her familiarity with FTLD-TDP pathology, can identify a TDP43-positive FTLD case. The goal should be to state a Type (A, B, C, D) or a mixture of Types (A/B, A/C or B/C). Neuropathologists, other clinicians and researchers should be aware of the pitfalls whilst doing so. Agreement can be reached in an inter-laboratory setting regarding Type C cases with thick and long neurites, whereas the differentiation between Types A and B may be more troublesome.
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22
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Sánchez-Ferro Á, Rábano A, Catalán MJ, Rodríguez-Valcárcel FC, Fernández Díez S, Herreros-Rodríguez J, García-Cobos E, Álvarez-Santullano MM, López-Manzanares L, Mosqueira AJ, Vela Desojo L, López-Lozano JJ, López-Valdés E, Sánchez-Sánchez R, Molina-Arjona JA. In vivo gastric detection of α-synuclein inclusions in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2014; 30:517-24. [PMID: 25113060 DOI: 10.1002/mds.25988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
α-Synuclein inclusions have been identified in the brain and some parts of the enteric nervous system in Parkinson's disease cases. We aimed to assess these inclusions in gastric mucosa samples from patients with symptomatic Parkinson's disease. Random biopsies were performed by gastroscopy in 28 patients with Parkinson's disease and in 29 age- and sex-matched controls. Gastroscopy was performed to start enteral levodopa (L-dopa) therapy in cases and for diagnostic purposes in controls (gastroesophageal reflux, anemia, and abdominal pain were the main indications). The clinical definition of cases and controls was made a priori. Six controls had data suggestive of "mild presymptomatic parkinsonism". Biopsy specimens were immunostained for α-synuclein. The neuropathological diagnosis was established post hoc. No differences were found in the baseline characteristics of the groups. Positive fibers for the α-synuclein protein were observed in 17 of 28 (60.7%) Parkinson's disease patients, 1 of 23 controls (4.3%), and 1 of 6 (16.7%) cases of incident "mild presymptomatic parkinsonism." Neuropathological diagnosis based on α-synuclein immunostaining showed a sensitivity of 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 62.1-96.8), specificity of 95% (95% CI 76.2-99.9) and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.90 (95% CI 0.80-1.00). No adverse events occurred. Detection of α-synuclein inclusions in the gastric mucosa is a useful and safe tool providing in vivo evidence of the underlying neurodegenerative peripheral involvement linked to Parkinson's disease. Further studies are warranted to determine its pathophysiological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Sánchez-Ferro
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
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Malek N, Swallow D, Grosset KA, Anichtchik O, Spillantini M, Grosset DG. Alpha-synuclein in peripheral tissues and body fluids as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease - a systematic review. Acta Neurol Scand 2014; 130:59-72. [PMID: 24702516 DOI: 10.1111/ane.12247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is neuropathologically characterized as an alpha-synucleinopathy. Alpha-synuclein-containing inclusions are stained as Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the brain, which are the pathological hallmark of PD. However, alpha-synuclein-containing inclusions in PD are not restricted to the central nervous system, but are also found in peripheral tissues. Alpha-synuclein levels can also be measured in body fluids. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of available evidence to determine the utility of alpha-synuclein as a peripheral biomarker of PD. We searched PubMed (1948 to 26 May 2013), Embase (1974 to 26 May 2013), the Cochrane Library (up to 26 May 2013), LILACS (up to 26 May 2013) and CINAHL (up to 26 May 2013) for the studies of alpha-synuclein in peripheral tissues or body fluids in PD. A total of 49 studies fulfilled the search criteria. Peripheral tissues such as colonic mucosa showed a sensitivity of 42-90% and a specificity of 100%; submandibular salivary glands showed sensitivity and specificity of 100%; skin biopsy showed 19% sensitivity and 80% specificity in detecting alpha-synuclein pathology. CSF alpha-synuclein had 71-94% sensitivity and 25-53% specificity for distinguishing PD from controls. Plasma alpha-synuclein had 48-53% sensitivity and 69-85% specificity. Neither plasma nor CSF alpha-synuclein is presently a reliable marker of PD. This differs from alpha-synuclein in solid tissue samples of the enteric and autonomic nervous system, which offer some potential as a surrogate marker of brain synucleinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Malek
- Institute of Neurological Sciences; Southern General Hospital; Glasgow UK
| | - D. Swallow
- Institute of Neurological Sciences; Southern General Hospital; Glasgow UK
| | - K. A. Grosset
- Institute of Neurological Sciences; Southern General Hospital; Glasgow UK
| | - O. Anichtchik
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences; Brain Repair Centre; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
| | - M. Spillantini
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences; Brain Repair Centre; University of Cambridge; Cambridge UK
| | - D. G. Grosset
- Institute of Neurological Sciences; Southern General Hospital; Glasgow UK
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Corvaglia S, Sanavio B, Hong Enriquez RP, Sorce B, Bosco A, Scaini D, Sabella S, Pompa PP, Scoles G, Casalis L. Atomic force microscopy based nanoassay: a new method to study α-Synuclein-dopamine bioaffinity interactions. Sci Rep 2014; 4:5366. [PMID: 24947141 PMCID: PMC4064358 DOI: 10.1038/srep05366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) are characterized by the lack of well-defined 3-D structure and show high conformational plasticity. For this reason, they are a strong challenge for the traditional characterization of structure, supramolecular assembly and biorecognition phenomena. We show here how the fine tuning of protein orientation on a surface turns useful in the reliable testing of biorecognition interactions of IDPs, in particular α-Synuclein. We exploited atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the selective, nanoscale confinement of α-Synuclein on gold to study the early stages of α-Synuclein aggregation and the effect of small molecules, like dopamine, on the aggregation process. Capitalizing on the high sensitivity of AFM topographic height measurements we determined, for the first time in the literature, the dissociation constant of dopamine-α-Synuclein adducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Corvaglia
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
- Life Science Department, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 1, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Barbara Sanavio
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Biological and Medical Science, University of Udine, Ospedale della Misericordia, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 15 -33100 Udine, Italy
- Current address: Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, IFOM-IEO-campus, via Adamello, 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Rolando P. Hong Enriquez
- Department of Biological and Medical Science, University of Udine, Ospedale della Misericordia, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 15 -33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Barbara Sorce
- Center for Bio-Molecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti-73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy
- Current address: ETH Zürich, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Bosco
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
| | - Denis Scaini
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
- Life Science Department, University of Trieste, via Giorgieri 1, I-34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefania Sabella
- Center for Bio-Molecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti-73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pompa
- Center for Bio-Molecular Nanotechnologies@UniLe, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti-73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giacinto Scoles
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Biological and Medical Science, University of Udine, Ospedale della Misericordia, Piazzale Santa Maria della Misericordia, 15 -33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Loredana Casalis
- NanoInnovation Laboratory, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., S.S.14 Km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
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Kalaitzakis ME, Gentleman SM, Pearce RKB. Disturbed sleep in Parkinson's disease: anatomical and pathological correlates. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2013; 39:644-53. [DOI: 10.1111/nan.12024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. E. Kalaitzakis
- Neuropathology Unit; Division of Brain Sciences; Department of Medicine; Imperial College London; London; UK
| | - S. M. Gentleman
- Neuropathology Unit; Division of Brain Sciences; Department of Medicine; Imperial College London; London; UK
| | - R. K. B. Pearce
- Neuropathology Unit; Division of Brain Sciences; Department of Medicine; Imperial College London; London; UK
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Helwig M, Hoshino A, Berridge C, Lee SN, Lorenzen N, Otzen DE, Eriksen JL, Lindberg I. The neuroendocrine protein 7B2 suppresses the aggregation of neurodegenerative disease-related proteins. J Biol Chem 2012; 288:1114-24. [PMID: 23172224 PMCID: PMC3542996 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.417071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer (AD) and Parkinson (PD) are characterized by abnormal aggregation of misfolded β-sheet-rich proteins, including amyloid-β (Aβ)-derived peptides and tau in AD and α-synuclein in PD. Correct folding and assembly of these proteins are controlled by ubiquitously expressed molecular chaperones; however, our understanding of neuron-specific chaperones and their involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is limited. We here describe novel chaperone-like functions for the secretory protein 7B2, which is widely expressed in neuronal and endocrine tissues. In in vitro experiments, 7B2 efficiently prevented fibrillation and formation of Aβ1–42, Aβ1–40, and α-synuclein aggregates at a molar ratio of 1:10. In cell culture experiments, inclusion of recombinant 7B2, either in the medium of Neuro-2A cells or intracellularly via adenoviral 7B2 overexpression, blocked the neurocytotoxic effect of Aβ1–42 and significantly increased cell viability. Conversely, knockdown of 7B2 by RNAi increased Aβ1–42-induced cytotoxicity. In the brains of APP/PSEN1 mice, a model of AD amyloidosis, immunoreactive 7B2 co-localized with aggregation-prone proteins and their respective aggregates. Furthermore, in the hippocampus and substantia nigra of human AD- and PD-affected brains, 7B2 was highly co-localized with Aβ plaques and α-synuclein deposits, strongly suggesting physiological association. Our data provide insight into novel functions of 7B2 and establish this neural protein as an anti-aggregation chaperone associated with neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Helwig
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
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27
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Kovacs GG, Wagner U, Dumont B, Pikkarainen M, Osman AA, Streichenberger N, Leisser I, Verchère J, Baron T, Alafuzoff I, Budka H, Perret-Liaudet A, Lachmann I. An antibody with high reactivity for disease-associated α-synuclein reveals extensive brain pathology. Acta Neuropathol 2012; 124:37-50. [PMID: 22370907 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-012-0964-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2011] [Revised: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein is the major protein associated with Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. Since α-synuclein is present in the brain in physiological conditions as a presynaptic protein, it is crucial to characterize disease-associated modifications to develop an in vivo biomarker. With the aim to develop antibodies showing high specificity and sensitivity for disease-associated α-synuclein, synthetic peptides containing different amino acid sequences were used for immunization of mice. After generation of α-synuclein aggregates, ELISA and immunoblotting were used to test the specificity of antibodies. Tissue microarray sections originating from different human α-synucleinopathies were used to compare immunostaining with other, commercially available antibodies. Immunization of mice with the peptide TKEGVVHGVATVAE (amino acid 44-57 of α-synuclein) resulted in the generation of a monoclonal antibody (5G4), which was able to bind aggregated α-synuclein preparation in sandwich ELISA or coated on magnetic beads. 5G4 proved to be superior to other antibodies in comparative immunohistochemical studies by revealing more widespread and distinct α-synuclein pathology. Immunoblotting of human brain tissue revealed an additional band seen in dementia with Lewy bodies, whereas the band representing monomeric α-synuclein was very weak or lacking. In summary, the 5G4 antibody is most promising for re-evaluation of archival material and may offer new perspective for the development of in vivo diagnostic assays for detecting disease-associated α-synuclein in body fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, AKH 4 J, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1097, Vienna, Austria.
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Abstract
AbstractGenetic, neuropathological and biochemical evidence implicates α-synuclein, a 140 amino acid presynaptic neuronal protein, in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The aggregated protein inclusions mainly containing aberrant α-synuclein are widely accepted as morphological hallmarks of α-synucleinopathies, but their composition and location vary between disorders along with neuronal networks affected. α-Synuclein exists physiologically in both soluble and membran-bound states, in unstructured and α-helical conformations, respectively, while posttranslational modifications due to proteostatic deficits are involved in β-pleated aggregation resulting in formation of typical inclusions. The physiological function of α-synuclein and its role linked to neurodegeneration, however, are incompletely understood. Soluble oligomeric, not fully fibrillar α-synuclein is thought to be neurotoxic, main targets might be the synapse, axons and glia. The effects of aberrant α-synuclein include alterations of calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative and nitric injuries, cytoskeletal effects, and neuroinflammation. Proteasomal dysfunction might be a common mechanism in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in α-synucleinopathies. However, how α-synuclein induces neurodegeneration remains elusive as its physiological function. Genome wide association studies demonstrated the important role for genetic variants of the SNCA gene encoding α-synuclein in the etiology of Parkinson’s disease, possibly through effects on oxidation, mitochondria, autophagy, and lysosomal function. The neuropathology of synucleinopathies and the role of α-synuclein as a potential biomarker are briefly summarized. Although animal models provided new insights into the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease and multiple system atrophy, most of them do not adequately reproduce the cardinal features of these disorders. Emerging evidence, in addition to synergistic interactions of α-synuclein with various pathogenic proteins, suggests that prionlike induction and seeding of α-synuclein could lead to the spread of the pathology and disease progression. Intervention in the early aggregation pathway, aberrant cellular effects, or secretion of α-synuclein might be targets for neuroprotection and disease-modifying therapy.
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Keem JO, Lee IH, Kim SY, Jung Y, Chung BH. Splitting and self-assembling of far-red fluorescent protein with an engineered beta strand peptide: application for alpha-synuclein imaging in mammalian cells. Biomaterials 2011; 32:9051-8. [PMID: 21880361 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We introduce the strategic development of self-assembling peptide/protein fragments based on the far-red fluorescent protein mPlum. The first beta strand (mPlum 1, 18 amino acids) of mPlum was engineered to spontaneously bind with the rest of the protein (mPlum 2-11, next 10 beta strands) and to form a native chromophore. The target beta strand mPlum 1 was separated from mPlum 2-11 and linked via a flexible peptide linker, resulting in fluorescently inactive circularly permuted mPlum protein (CpmPlum). In vitro evolution of this CpmPlum to a fluorescently active form and the subsequent splitting of the engineered mPlum 1 peptide afforded self-assembling mPlum fragments. Recombinantly expressed and synthetically prepared beta strand peptides were successfully assembled with the remaining mPlum protein in vitro and in cells. This developed pair of peptide/protein fragments was effectively used for peptide tag detection of alpha-synuclein in mammalian cells. Sequential expression of self-assembling mPlum fragments offered an entirely genetically encoded sensing system of naturally unfolded alpha-synuclein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Oak Keem
- BioNanotechnology Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yuseong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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30
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Mougenot ALJ, Bétemps D, Hogeveen KN, Kovacs GG, Chouaf-Lakhdar L, Milhavet O, Lehmann S, Legastelois S, Pin JJ, Baron TG. Production of a monoclonal antibody, against human α-synuclein, in a subpopulation of C57BL/6J mice, presenting a deletion of the α-synuclein locus. J Neurosci Methods 2010; 192:268-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2010.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Revised: 08/05/2010] [Accepted: 08/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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The Effect of Prolonged Fixation Time on Immunohistochemical Staining of Common Neurodegenerative Disease Markers. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2010; 69:40-52. [DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3181c6c13d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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Tong J, Wong H, Guttman M, Ang LC, Forno LS, Shimadzu M, Rajput AH, Muenter MD, Kish SJ, Hornykiewicz O, Furukawa Y. Brain alpha-synuclein accumulation in multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy: a comparative investigation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 133:172-88. [PMID: 19903734 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awp282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is a major component of Lewy bodies and glial cytoplasmic inclusions, pathological hallmarks of idiopathic Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, and it is assumed to be aetiologically involved in these conditions. However, the quantitative status of brain alpha-synuclein in different Parkinsonian disorders is still unresolved and it is uncertain whether alpha-synuclein accumulation is restricted to regions of pathology. We compared membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein, both the full-length 17 kDa and high molecular weight species, by western blotting in autopsied brain of patients with Parkinson's disease (brainstem-predominant Lewy body disease: n = 9), multiple system atrophy (n = 11), progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 16), and of normal controls (n = 13). Brain of a patient with familial Parkinsonism-dementia due to alpha-synuclein locus triplication (as positive control) showed increased membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein levels with abundant high molecular weight immunoreactivity. In multiple system atrophy, a massive increase in 17 kDa membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein was observed in highly pathologically affected regions, including putamen (+1760%, range +625-2900%), substantia nigra [+1000% (+356-1850%)], and white matter of internal capsule [+2210% (+430-6830%)] together with numerous high molecular weight species. Levels of 17 kDa membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein were only modestly increased in less affected areas (cerebellar cortex, +95%; caudate, +30%; with both also showing numerous high molecular weight species) and were generally normal in cerebral cortices. In both Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein levels were normal in putamen and frontal cortex whereas a trend was observed for variably increased 17 kDa membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein concentrations [+184% (-60% to +618%)] with additional high molecular weight species in Parkinson's disease substantia nigra. No obvious correlation was observed between nigral membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein accumulation and Lewy body density in Parkinson's disease. Two progressive supranuclear palsy cases had membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein accumulation in substantia nigra similar to multiple system atrophy. Several Parkinson's disease patients had very modest high molecular weight membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein accumulation in putamen. Levels of 17-kDa membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein were generally positively correlated with those of high molecular weight membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein and there was a trend for a positive correlation between striatal dopamine loss and 17-kDa membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein concentrations in multiple system atrophy. Brain membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein accumulations in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy are regionally specific, suggesting that these sporadic alpha-synucleinopathies, unlike familial Parkinsonism-dementia, are not associated with a simple global over-expression of the protein. Despite a similar extent of dopamine depletion, the magnitude of brain membrane-associated, sodium dodecyl sulfate-soluble alpha-synuclein changes is disease specific, with multiple system atrophy clearly having the most severe accumulation. Literature discrepancies on alpha-synuclein status in 'Parkinson's disease' might be explained by inclusion of cases not having classic brainstem-predominant Lewy body disease and by variable alpha-synuclein accumulation within this diagnostic classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Tong
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo Tokyo Koto Geriatric Medical Center, 3-3-20 Shinsuna, Koto, Tokyo 136-0075, Japan
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Alafuzoff I, Ince PG, Arzberger T, Al-Sarraj S, Bell J, Bodi I, Bogdanovic N, Bugiani O, Ferrer I, Gelpi E, Gentleman S, Giaccone G, Ironside JW, Kavantzas N, King A, Korkolopoulou P, Kovács GG, Meyronet D, Monoranu C, Parchi P, Parkkinen L, Patsouris E, Roggendorf W, Rozemuller A, Stadelmann-Nessler C, Streichenberger N, Thal DR, Kretzschmar H. Staging/typing of Lewy body related alpha-synuclein pathology: a study of the BrainNet Europe Consortium. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 117:635-52. [PMID: 19330340 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0523-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2009] [Revised: 03/17/2009] [Accepted: 03/17/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
When 22 members of the BrainNet Europe (BNE) consortium assessed 31 cases with alpha-synuclein (alphaS) immunoreactive (IR) pathology applying the consensus protocol described by McKeith and colleagues in 2005, the inter-observer agreement was 80%, being lowest in the limbic category (73%). When applying the staging protocol described by Braak and colleagues in 2003, agreement was only 65%, and in some cases as low as 36%. When modifications of these strategies, i.e., McKeith's protocol by Leverenz and colleagues from 2009, Braak's staging by Müller and colleagues from 2005 were applied then the agreement increased to 78 and 82%, respectively. In both of these modifications, a reduced number of anatomical regions/blocks are assessed and still in a substantial number of cases, the inter-observer agreement differed significantly. Over 80% agreement in both typing and staging of alphaS pathology could be achieved when applying a new protocol, jointly designed by the BNE consortium. The BNE-protocol assessing alphaS-IR lesions in nine blocks offered advantages over the previous modified protocols because the agreement between the 22 observers was over 80% in most cases. Furthermore, in the BNE-protocol, the alphaS pathology is assessed as being present or absent and thus the quality of staining and the assessment of the severity of alphaS-IR pathology do not alter the inter-observer agreement, contrary to other assessment strategies. To reach these high agreement rates an entity of amygdala-predominant category was incorporated. In conclusion, here we report a protocol for assessing alphaS pathology that can achieve a high inter-observer agreement for both the assignment to brainstem, limbic, neocortical and amygdala-predominant categories of synucleinopathy and the Braak stages.
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Unified staging system for Lewy body disorders: correlation with nigrostriatal degeneration, cognitive impairment and motor dysfunction. Acta Neuropathol 2009; 117:613-34. [PMID: 19399512 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-009-0538-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 484] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2008] [Revised: 04/08/2009] [Accepted: 04/10/2009] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The two current major staging systems in use for Lewy body disorders fail to classify up to 50% of subjects. Both systems do not allow for large numbers of subjects who have Lewy-type alpha-synucleinopathy (LTS) confined to the olfactory bulb or who pass through a limbic-predominant pathway that at least initially bypasses the brainstem. The results of the current study, based on examination of a standard set of ten brain regions from 417 subjects stained immunohistochemically for alpha-synuclein, suggest a new staging system that, in this study, allows for the classification of all subjects with Lewy body disorders. The autopsied subjects included elderly subjects with Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, incidental Lewy body disease and Alzheimer's disease with Lewy bodies, as well as comparison groups without Lewy bodies. All subjects were classifiable into one of the following stages: I. Olfactory Bulb Only; IIa Brainstem Predominant; IIb Limbic Predominant; III Brainstem and Limbic; IV Neocortical. Progression of subjects through these stages was accompanied by a generally stepwise worsening in terms of striatal tyrosine hydroxylase concentration, substantia nigra pigmented neuron loss score, Mini Mental State Examination score and score on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3. Additionally, there were significant correlations between these measures and LTS density scores. It is suggested that the proposed staging system would improve on its predecessors by allowing classification of a much greater proportion of cases.
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Kalaitzakis M, Christian L, Moran L, Graeber M, Pearce R, Gentleman S. Dementia and visual hallucinations associated with limbic pathology in Parkinson's disease. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2009; 15:196-204. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2008.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2008] [Revised: 04/03/2008] [Accepted: 05/01/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Vivacqua G, Yin JJ, Casini A, Li X, Li YH, D'Este L, Chan P, Renda TG, Yu S. Immunolocalization of alpha-synuclein in the rat spinal cord by two novel monoclonal antibodies. Neuroscience 2008; 158:1478-87. [PMID: 19118601 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2008] [Revised: 11/26/2008] [Accepted: 12/01/2008] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
This study provides the first immunohistochemical evidence of the presence and distribution patterns in the rat spinal cord of alpha-synuclein (alpha-Syn), a soluble acidic protein, widely expressed in the CNS and closely associated to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. We used two novel homemade monoclonal antibodies (2E3 and 3D5) recognizing two different epitopes of alpha-Syn. Both antibodies localized alpha-Syn within the nerve terminals, whereas 3D5 alone also localized it within the neuronal nuclei. alpha-Syn-immunoreactive nervous elements were widely recognized throughout rat spinal cord and in almost all the gray matter laminae. However, they appeared particularly concentrated within laminae I, II, VII and X and more scattered in the others. Double immunofluorescent labeling showed that alpha-Syn colocalized with synaptophysin in the presynaptic nerve terminals, with neuropeptide Y (NPY) in lamina I, II, IX and X, and had close relationships with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons in laminae VII and X. Interestingly, the alpha-Syn-immunoreactive nerve elements, in lamina X, contained little of calbindin-28KD and calretinin-31KD. Our findings could help in understanding the genesis of some early clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), such as pain and dysautonomic disorders, and indicate the spinal cord as their probable starting point, according to the ascending theory of PD, proposed by Braak.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Vivacqua
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing 100053, China
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Beach TG, White CL, Hamilton RL, Duda JE, Iwatsubo T, Dickson DW, Leverenz JB, Roncaroli F, Buttini M, Hladik CL, Sue LI, Noorigian JV, Adler CH. Evaluation of alpha-synuclein immunohistochemical methods used by invited experts. Acta Neuropathol 2008; 116:277-88. [PMID: 18626651 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-008-0409-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2008] [Revised: 06/22/2008] [Accepted: 06/23/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The use of alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry has altered our concepts of the cellular pathology, anatomical distribution and prevalence of Lewy body disorders. However, the diversity of methodology between laboratories has led to some inconsistencies in the literature. Adoption of uniformly sensitive methods may resolve some of these differences. Eight different immunohistochemical methods for demonstrating alpha-synuclein pathology, developed in eight separate expert laboratories, were evaluated for their sensitivity for neuronal elements affected by human Lewy body disorders. Identical test sets of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections from subjects diagnosed neuropathologically with or without Lewy body disorders were stained with the eight methods and graded by three observers for specific and nonspecific staining. The methods did not differ significantly in terms of Lewy body counts, but varied considerably in their ability to reveal neuropil elements such as fibers and dots. One method was clearly superior for revealing these neuropil elements and the critical factor contributing to its high sensitivity was considered to be its use of proteinase K as an epitope retrieval method. Some methods, however, achieved relatively high sensitivities with optimized formic acid protocols combined with a hydrolytic step. One method was developed that allows high sensitivity with commercially available reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Beach
- Civin Laboratory for Neuropathology, Sun Health Research Institute, 10515 West Santa Fe Drive, Sun City, AZ 85351, USA.
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Neuropathologic features of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions visualized with ubiquitin-binding protein p62 immunohistochemistry. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008; 67:280-98. [PMID: 18379439 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e31816a1da2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic, clinical, and neuropathologic heterogeneity have been observed in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin (Ubq)-positive inclusions (FTLD-U) and FTLD-U with motor neuron disease. Here, the distribution and morphologic features of neuronal and glial inclusions in the brains of 20 FTLD-U and 2 FTLD-U/motor neuron disease cases were assessed using immunohistochemistry for Ubq-binding protein p62. Eighteen cases displayed TAR DNA-binding protein 43-immunoreactive lesions and were classified as Types 3 (neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions and neurites; 72%), 2 (primarily neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions; 17%), or 1 (primarily neurites; 11%) FTLD-U. The distribution of p62-immunoreactivity varied considerably in each type. Of 4 unclassifiable cases, 2 displayed p62-immunoreactive lesions suggestive of FTLD-U with a mutation in the charged multivesicular body protein 2B gene; 1 suggested basophilic inclusion body disease, and 1 was of a type not previously described. By immunohistochemistry for Ubq-binding protein p62, the distribution of abnormalities was wider than expected; in approximately half of the cases, there were p62-positive but TAR DNA-binding protein 43-negative inclusions in the cerebellum, a region not previously considered to be affected. In other regions, TAR DNA-binding protein 43-, Ubq-, and Ubq-binding protein p62 labeling of inclusions was variable. Whether variations in inclusion morphologies, immunoreactivity, and topographic distribution are due to methodologic factors, different stages of inclusion and disease evolution, different disease entities or biologic modifications of the same disease are presently unclear.
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Assessment of alpha-synuclein pathology: a study of the BrainNet Europe Consortium. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008; 67:125-43. [PMID: 18219257 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e3181633526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine the reliability of assessment of alpha-synuclein-immunoreactive (alphaS-IR) structures by neuropathologists, 28 evaluators from 17 centers of BrainNet Europe examined current methods and reproducibility of alphaS-IR evaluation using a tissue microarray (TMA) technique. Tissue microarray blocks were constructed of samples from the participating centers that contained alphaS-IR structures. Slides from these blocks were stained in each center and assessed for neuronal perikaryal inclusions, neurites, and glial cytoplasmic inclusions. The study was performed in 2 phases. First, the TMA slides were stained with the antibody of the center's choice. In this phase, 59% of the sections were of good or acceptable quality, and 4 of 9 antibodies used performed consistently. Differences in interpretation and categorization of alphaS-IR structures, however, led to differing results between the laboratories. Prior to the second phase, the neuropathologists participated in a training session on the evaluation of alphaS-IR structures. Based on the results of the first phase, selected antibodies using designated antigen retrieval methods were then applied to TMA slides in the second phase. When the designated methods of both staining and evaluation were applied, all 26 subsequently stained TMA sections evaluated were of good/acceptable quality, and a high level of concordance in the assessment of the presence or absence of specific alphaS-IR structures was achieved. A semiquantitative assessment of alphaS-IR neuronal perikaryal inclusions yielded agreements ranging from 49% to 82%, with best concordance in cortical core samples. These results suggest that rigorous methodology and dichotomized assessment (i.e. determining the presence or absence of alphaS-IR) should be applied, and that semiquantitative assessment can be recommended only for the cortical samples. Moreover, the study demonstrates that there are limitations in the scoring of alphaS-IR structures.
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Inter-laboratory comparison of neuropathological assessments of beta-amyloid protein: a study of the BrainNet Europe consortium. Acta Neuropathol 2008; 115:533-46. [PMID: 18343933 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-008-0358-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2007] [Revised: 02/27/2008] [Accepted: 02/28/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid-beta-protein (Abeta) is generally assessed by neuropathologists in diagnostics. This BrainNet Europe ( http://www.brainnet-europe.org/ ) (15 centres and 26 participants) study was carried out to investigate the reliability of such an assessment. In the first part of this trial, tissue microarray sections were stained with the antibody of each centre's choice. Reflecting the reality, seven antibodies and a plethora of pretreatment strategies were used. Ninety-two percent of the stainings were of good/acceptable quality and the estimation of presence of Abeta aggregates yielded good results. However, a poor agreement was reached particularly regarding quantitative (density) and qualitative (diffuse/cored plaques) results. During a joint meeting, the clone 4G8 was determined to label best the fleecy/diffuse plaques, and thus, this clone and the formic acid pretreatment technique were selected for the second part of this study. Subsequently, all stained sections were of good/acceptable quality and again a high level of concordance of the dichotomized (presence/absence) assessment of plaques and CAA was achieved. However, even when only one antibody was used, the type of Abeta-aggregates (diffuse/cored), type of vessel and Vonsattel grade, were not reliably assigned. Furthermore, the quantification of lesions was far from reliable. In line with the first trial, the agreement while assessing density (some, moderate and many) was unimpressive. In conclusion, we can confirm the utility of immunohistochemical detection of Abeta-protein in diagnostics and research. It is noteworthy that to reach reproducible results a dichotomized assessment of Abeta-immunoreactivity rather than quantification and assignment of various types of lesions should be applied, particularly when comparing results obtained by different neuropathologists.
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Halliday GM, McCann H. Human-based studies on α-synuclein deposition and relationship to Parkinson's disease symptoms. Exp Neurol 2008; 209:12-21. [PMID: 17706644 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2007.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2007] [Revised: 06/30/2007] [Accepted: 07/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This article reviews the current knowledge on alpha-synuclein and its cellular locations in studies using human brain tissue. Alterations in the conformation and distribution of alpha-synuclein are examined in Parkinson's disease and the relationship between clinical symptoms and pathology explored. alpha-Synuclein as a molecular chaperone has several isoforms and is known to have different environment-dependent conformations. Processing methods for studying human brain tissue significantly impact on the conformational type of alpha-synuclein analysed, and antibody species used for the in situ detection of alpha-synuclein give variable results depending on the epitope visualised. Human studies show that alpha-synuclein is not isolated to neurons, but is also found in glia, making the interpretation of studies using brain tissue homogenates less clearly related to neurons. These methodological issues impact significantly on our understanding of the form, location, and therefore function of alpha-synuclein in normal human brain tissue. There are less methodological issues regarding highly aggregated alpha-synuclein found in the major hallmark of Parkinson's disease, the Lewy body. However, it remains unclear whether these alpha-synuclein inclusions are harmful to host neurons or provide protection. Several correlations exist between the clinical symptoms of Parkinson's disease and the distribution of Lewy pathology, the strongest being the association between limbic and cortical Lewy bodies and well-formed visual hallucinations. Further correlation studies in prospectively-followed patients and, perhaps more importantly, controls are required in order to determine normal versus pathologic alpha-synuclein and how to detect such differences in clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenda M Halliday
- Prince of Wales, Medical Research Institute, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
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Roberti MJ, Bertoncini CW, Klement R, Jares-Erijman EA, Jovin TM. Fluorescence imaging of amyloid formation in living cells by a functional, tetracysteine-tagged alpha-synuclein. Nat Methods 2007; 4:345-51. [PMID: 17351621 DOI: 10.1038/nmeth1026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2006] [Accepted: 02/09/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein is a major component of intraneuronal protein aggregates constituting a distinctive feature of Parkinson disease. To date, fluorescence imaging of dynamic processes leading to such amyloid deposits in living cells has not been feasible. To address this need, we generated a recombinant alpha-synuclein (alpha-synuclein-C4) bearing a tetracysteine target for fluorogenic biarsenical compounds. The biophysical, biochemical and aggregation properties of alpha-synuclein-C4 matched those of the wild-type protein in vitro and in living cells. We observed aggregation of alpha-synuclein-C4 transfected or microinjected into cells, particularly under oxidative stress conditions. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between FlAsH and ReAsH confirmed the close association of fibrillized alpha-synuclein-C4 molecules. Alpha-synuclein-C4 offers the means for directly probing amyloid formation and interactions of alpha-synuclein with other proteins in living cells, the response to cellular stress and screening drugs for Parkinson disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María J Roberti
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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Moran LB, Croisier E, Duke DC, Kalaitzakis ME, Roncaroli F, Deprez M, Dexter DT, Pearce RKB, Graeber MB. Analysis of alpha-synuclein, dopamine and parkin pathways in neuropathologically confirmed parkinsonian nigra. Acta Neuropathol 2007; 113:253-63. [PMID: 17203291 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-006-0181-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2006] [Accepted: 11/28/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The identification of mutations that cause familial Parkinson's disease (PD) provides a framework for studies into pathways that may be perturbed also in the far more common, non-familial form of the disorder. Following this hypothesis, we have examined the gene regulatory network that links alpha-synuclein and parkin pathways with dopamine metabolism in neuropathologically verified cases of sporadic PD. By means of an in silico approach using a database of eukaryotic molecular interactions and a whole genome transcriptome dataset validated by qRT-PCR and histological methods, we found parkin and functionally associated genes to be up-regulated in the lateral substantia nigra (SN). In contrast, alpha-synuclein and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) gene expression levels were significantly reduced in both the lateral and medial SN in PD. Gene expression for Septin 4, a member of the GTP-binding protein family involved in alpha-synuclein metabolism was elevated in the lateral parkinsonian SN. Additionally, catalase and mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase family member 1 (PARP1) known to function in DNA repair and cell death induction, all members of the dopamine synthesis pathway, were up-regulated in the lateral SN. In contrast, two additional PD-linked genes, glucocerebrosidase and nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2 (NR4A2) showed reduced expression. We show that in sporadic PD, parkin, alpha-synuclein and dopamine pathways are co-deregulated. Alpha-synuclein is a member of all three gene regulatory networks. Our analysis results support the view that alpha-synuclein has a central role in the familial as well as the non-familial form of the disease and provide steps towards a pathway definition of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- L B Moran
- University Department of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, W6 8RF, London, UK
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Kovács GG, Gelpi E, Lehotzky A, Höftberger R, Erdei A, Budka H, Ovádi J. The brain-specific protein TPPP/p25 in pathological protein deposits of neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol 2007; 113:153-61. [PMID: 17123092 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-006-0167-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2006] [Revised: 10/27/2006] [Accepted: 10/28/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Immunohistochemical detection of protein components of pathological inclusions is widely used for neuropathological diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders. However, different antibodies and antigen unmasking methods may account for variability between research studies and thus may affect diagnostic accuracy. Using two different antibodies raised against either a segment (184-200 aa) or the full length of human recombinant brain-specific tubulin polymerization promoting protein TPPP/p25, we immunohistochemically screened neurodegenerative disorders, both with and without pathological alpha-synuclein structures. We tested three different epitope unmasking methods, we applied laser confocal microscopy to evaluate double immunolabelling, and we compared the amount of structures exhibiting TPPP/p25 and alpha-synuclein immunoreactivity. We demonstrate that there are a variety of staining patterns depending on the epitope retrieval method and antibody used. The antibody raised against aa 184-200 segment of TPPP/p25 is better in immunolabelling the majority of alpha-synuclein immunopositive neuronal and glial pathological profiles detectable in Parkinson's disease, diffuse Lewy-body disease, and multiple system atrophy, in addition to immunostaining some extracellular huntingtin immunoreactive structures, lipofuscin, and neuromelanin particles. In contrast, the one raised against the full-length human recombinant TPPP/p25 is more suitable to immunodetect normal oligodendrocytes. Exposition of the segment aa 184-200 of TPPP/p25 in the aggregates of pathological inclusions renders this antibody a reliable marker of all types of alpha-synucleinopathies and suggests a role for TPPP/p25 in the aggregation process of some neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor G Kovács
- Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hüvösvölgyi ut 116, Budapest, 1021, Hungary.
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Croisier E, Graeber MB. Glial degeneration and reactive gliosis in alpha-synucleinopathies: the emerging concept of primary gliodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol 2006; 112:517-30. [PMID: 16896905 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-006-0119-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2006] [Revised: 07/04/2006] [Accepted: 07/04/2006] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The concept of gliodegenerative diseases has not been widely established although there is accumulating evidence that glial cells may represent a primary target of degenerative disease processes. In the central nervous system (CNS), examples that provide a "proof of concept" include at least one alpha-synucleinopathy, multiple system atrophy (MSA), but this disease is conventionally discussed under the heading of "neurodegeneration". Additional evidence in support of primary glial affection has been reported in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Based on biochemical, genetic and transcriptomic studies it is also becoming increasingly clear that the molecular changes measured in whole tissue extracts, e.g. obtained from Parkinson's disease brain, are not based on a purely neuronal contribution. This important evidence has been missed in cell culture or laser capture work focusing on the neuronal cell population. Studies of animal and in vitro models of disease pathogenesis additionally suggest glial accountability for some CNS degenerative processes. This review provides a critical analysis of the evidence available to date in support of the concept of gliodegeneration, which we propose to represent an essential although largely disregarded component of the spectrum of classical "neurodegeneration". Examples from the spectrum of alpha-synucleinopathies are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Croisier
- University Department of Neuropathology, Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Charing Cross Campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, UK
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Alafuzoff I, Pikkarainen M, Al-Sarraj S, Arzberger T, Bell J, Bodi I, Bogdanovic N, Budka H, Bugiani O, Ferrer I, Gelpi E, Giaccone G, Graeber MB, Hauw JJ, Kamphorst W, King A, Kopp N, Korkolopoulou P, Kovács GG, Meyronet D, Parchi P, Patsouris E, Preusser M, Ravid R, Roggendorf W, Seilhean D, Streichenberger N, Thal DR, Kretzschmar H. Interlaboratory comparison of assessments of Alzheimer disease-related lesions: a study of the BrainNet Europe Consortium. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2006; 65:740-57. [PMID: 16896308 DOI: 10.1097/01.jnen.0000229986.17548.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This interlaboratory study evaluated the reproducibility of the assessments of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs)--the hallmark lesions of Alzheimer disease--and compared the staining between the BrainNet Europe centers. To reduce the topography-related inconsistencies in assessments, we used a 2-mm tissue microarray (TMA) technique. The TMA block included 42 core samples taken from 21 paraffin blocks. The assessments were done on Bielschowsky and Gallyas silver stains using an immunohistochemical (IHC) method with antibodies directed to beta-amyloid (IHC/Abeta) and hyperphosphorylated tau (IHC/HPtau). The staining quality and the assessments differed between the participants, being most diverse with Bielschowsky (good/acceptable stain in 53% of centers) followed by Gallyas (good/acceptable stain in 57%) and IHC/Abeta (good/acceptable stain in 71%). The most uniform staining quality and assessment was obtained with the IHC/HPtau method (good/acceptable stain in 94% of centers). The neuropathologic diagnostic protocol (Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer Disease, Braak and Braak, and the National Institute of Aging and Reagan [NIA-Reagan] Institute) that was used significantly influenced the agreement, being highest with NIA-Reagan (54%) recommendations. This agreement was improved by visualization of NFTs using the IHC/HPtau method. Therefore, the IHC/HPtau methodology to visualize NFTs and neuropil threads should be considered as a method of choice in a future diagnostic protocol for Alzheimer disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Alafuzoff
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurology, Kuopio University, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
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