title: alpha-synuclein is developmentally expressed in cultured rat brain oligodendrocytes.
abstract: Although a neuronal protein, alpha-synuclein is a major component of glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) in oligodendrocytes of multiple system atrophy (MSA) brains. Because alpha-synuclein has not been identified in oligodendrocytes of normal brains, we examined cultured rat brain oligodendrocytes during in vitro development and showed that alpha-synuclein mRNA and protein are present in cultured oligodendrocytes. The expression of alpha-synuclein was developmentally regulated; it increased to peak levels at 2 or 3 days in culture but declined thereafter. Indirect immunofluorescence further shows that alpha-synuclein was localized predominantly in cell bodies and primary processes of oligodendroglia. Thus, GCIs may be a consequence of altered rather than de novo expression of alpha-synuclein in MSA oligodendrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Molecular Neurobiology, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany. Christiane.Richter.Landsberg@Uni-Oldenburg.de
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richter-Landsberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorath
authors.forename: J Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Trojanowski
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497606:Snca protein, rat; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein