Absence of alpha-synuclein pathology in postencephalitic parkinsonism.
Postencephalitic parkinsonism (PEP), a chronic complication of encephalitis lethargica, is a tauopathy characterized by multisystem neuronal loss and gliosis with widespread neurofibrillary lesions composed of both 3- and 4-repeat (3R and 4R) tau isoforms. Previous immunohistochemical studies in a small number of PEP cases demonstrated absence of Lewy bodies as well as the lack of other alpha-synuclein pathology, classifying PEP as a "pure" tauopathy. Neuropathologic examination of 10 brains with clinico-pathologically verified PEP confirmed widespread neurodegeneration in subcortical and brainstem areas associated with multifocal neurofibrillary pathology comprising both 3R and 4R tau. Very rare beta-amyloid deposits were observed in two elderly patients, while Lewy bodies and neurites or any other alpha-synuclein deposits were completely absent. The causes and molecular background of total absence of alpha-synuclein pathology in PEP, in contrast to most other tauopathies, remain as unknown as the pathogenesis of PEP.
Jellinger
Kurt A
KA
Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, 1070 Vienna, Austria. kurt.jellinger@univie.ac.at
D000328:Adult; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D010301:Parkinson Disease, Postencephalitic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D024801:Tauopathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D051844:alpha-Synuclein