title: Accumulation of phosphorylated neurofilaments in anterior horn motoneurons of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.
abstract: Perikaryal collections of intermediate filaments have been described in the anterior horn motoneurons of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but these inclusions have generally been considered rare and mainly associated with the familial form of ALS. Using the monoclonal antibody NF2F11, which recognizes phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes, we showed that focal collections of neurofilaments in anterior horn motoneurons were a characteristic finding in sporadic as well as in familial ALS; they were present in seven of nine ALS patients, but in none of nine control spinal cords. These neurofilamentous collections are not cross-reactive with antibodies directed against paired helical filaments and the microtubule associated protein tau. In addition, diffuse staining for phosphorylated neurofilament epitopes in chromatolytic anterior horn perikarya was significantly more frequent in ALS patients than in controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology (Neuropathology) University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Selkoe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal