Aims: It has been proposed that alpha-synuclein (alpha Syn) pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD) spreads in a predictable caudo-rostral way with the earliest changes seen in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV). However, the reliability of this stereotypical spread of alpha Syn pathology has been questioned. In addition, the comparative occurrence of alpha Syn pathology in the spinal cord and brain has not been closely studied.
Methods: In order to address these issues, we have examined 71 cases of PD from the UK Parkinson's Disease Society Tissue Bank at Imperial College, London. The incidence and topographic distribution of alpha Syn pathology in several brain regions and the spinal cord were assessed.
Results: The most affected regions were the substantia nigra (SN; in 100% of cases) followed by the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert (NBM) in 98.5%. Fifty-three per cent of cases showed a distribution pattern of alpha Syn compatible with a caudo-rostral spread of alpha Syn through the PD brain. However, 47% of the cases did not fit the predicted spread of alpha Syn pathology and in 7% the DMV was not affected even though alpha Syn inclusions were found in SN and cortical regions. We also observed a high incidence of alpha Syn in the spinal cord with concomitant affection of the DMV and in a few cases in the absence of DMV involvement.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a predominant involvement of the SN and NBM in PD but do not support the existence of a medullary induction site of alpha Syn pathology in all PD brains.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2990.2007.00923.x | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Distinct CSF α-synuclein aggregation profiles associated with Alzheimer's disease phenotypes and MCI-to-AD conversion.
J Prev Alzheimers Dis
February 2025
The ADNI is detailed in Supplemental Acknowledgments.
Background: α-Synuclein (α-Syn) pathology is present in 30-50 % of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and its interactions with tau proteins may further exacerbate pathological changes in AD. However, the specific role of different aggregation forms of α-Syn in the progression of AD remains unclear.
Objectives: To explore the relationship between various aggregation types of CSF α-Syn and Alzheimer's disease progression.
Identification of Downregulated Gene in Parkinson's Disease Through Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis and Validation.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
Department of General Practice, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron degeneration and α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation. Lipid metabolism dysfunction may contribute to PD progression. This study aims to identify lipid metabolism-related genes (LMGs) associated with PD using an integrative transcriptomic analysis of microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from patients with PD and healthy controls.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmacodynamic Mechanisms of Cicadae Periostracum in Parkinson's Disease: A Metabolomics-Based Study.
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China.
Cicadae Periostracum (CP) is a traditional Chinese animal-derived medicine with the potential to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of CP against PD-based on metabolomics technology and provide a theoretical basis for developing new anti-PD medicine. First, MPP-induced SH-SY5Y cells were used to evaluate the anti-PD activity of CP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel Poly-Arginine Peptide R18D Reduces α-Synuclein Aggregation and Uptake of α-Synuclein Seeds in Cortical Neurons.
Biomedicines
January 2025
Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands 6009, Australia.
Background/objectives: The role of α-synuclein (α-syn) pathology in Parkinson's disease (PD) is well established; however, effective therapies remain elusive. Two mechanisms central to PD neurodegeneration are the intracellular aggregation of misfolded α-syn and the uptake of α-syn aggregates into neurons. Cationic arginine-rich peptides (CARPs) are an emerging class of molecule with multiple neuroprotective mechanisms of action, including protein stabilisation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroRNAs in Parkinson's disease: From pathogenesis to diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.
Neuroscience
January 2025
Center for Translational Medicine of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Gx, China. Electronic address:
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by pathological changes, including the loss of dopaminergic neurons and abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn). Certain cellular and molecular events are involved; however, the origin and significance of these events remain uncertain. The discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) predicted to play a pivotal role in various regulatory processes has emerged.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!