title: Reciprocal accumulation of beta-synuclein in alpha-synuclein lesions in multiple system atrophy.
abstract: Alpha-Synuclein is a major component of neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in multiple system atrophy (MSA), one of the alpha-synucleinopathies. Recent studies have shown that beta-synuclein, a homolog of alpha-synuclein, inhibits alpha-synuclein aggregation in vitro. We immunohistochemically examined the MSA brain, using specific antibodies against alpha-synuclein and beta-synuclein. alpha-synuclein-positive filamentous aggregates were frequently found in neurons in the pontine and inferior olivary nuclei. No abnormal accumulation of alpha-synuclein was noted in Purkinje cells. In contrast, beta-synuclein accumulation occurred extensively in Purkinje cells, and only minimally in pontine and olivary neurons. Thus, neuronal alpha-synuclein inclusions appear to occur only rarely in neurons in which beta-synuclein accumulates. These findings support the possibility that beta-synuclein is a negative regulator of alpha-synuclein aggregation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan. neuropal@cc.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishie
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011689:Purkinje Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D051846:beta-Synuclein
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C497604:SNCA protein, human; C497607:SNCB protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D051846:beta-Synuclein