title: Expression of beta-synuclein in normal human astrocytes.
abstract: Although alpha- and beta-synucleins are expressed predominantly in presynaptic nerve terminals, recent studies have demonstrated that alpha-synuclein is also expressed in cultured astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. We determined whether beta-synuclein might be expressed in astrocytes. Beta-synuclein mRNA and protein were detected in normal human astrocytes in culture, and immunofluorescent staining showed that beta-synuclein protein was expressed within the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, beta-synuclein immunoreactivity was present in astrocytes, but not in oligodendrocytes, in normal human brain tissues. Ultrastructurally, beta-synuclein immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of astrocytes, in association with the plasma membrane, ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum and the nuclear outer membrane. The novel expression of beta-synuclein in astrocytes may provide an important insight about the role of this protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanji
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakajo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirabayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D051846:beta-Synuclein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497604:SNCA protein, human; C497607:SNCB protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D051846:beta-Synuclein