title: CSF alpha-synuclein levels in dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is characterized by widespread depositions of alpha-synuclein, which are described as Lewy bodies. Recently, it was shown that neuronal cells in culture constitutively release alpha-synuclein into the culture medium and that alpha-synuclein is normally present in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of CSF alpha-synuclein levels in discriminating DLB from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alpha-synuclein was measured in CSF from 16 patients with DLB and 21 patients with AD. Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac scintigraphy was also performed to assess Lewy body pathology. CSF alpha-synuclein levels did not differ significantly between DLB and AD patients. However, the duration of illness was associated with lower alpha-synuclein levels (p<0.05) in DLB, while no such association was found in AD. The present data show CSF alpha-synuclein levels are not sensitive diagnostic markers to discriminate DLB from AD. However, the lower alpha-synuclein levels in DLB patients with longer duration suggest a reduction in CSF alpha-synuclein in association with increased severity of alpha-synucleinopathy in the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Moeko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noguchi-Shinohara
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Omar M A
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: El-Agnaf
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055414:Myocardial Perfusion Imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017779:Sympathetic Fibers, Postganglionic / Q000503:physiopathology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015415:Biomarkers; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D016875:tau Proteins