title: Increase of the plasma α-synuclein levels in patients with multiple system atrophy.
abstract: Multiple system atrophy, a sporadic neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the presence of high numbers of glial cytoplasmic inclusions mainly formed by α-synuclein protein, which is encoded by the SNCA gene. To date, however, few studies have investigated the plasma α-synuclein levels in patients with multiple system atrophy. We studied plasma α-synuclein concentrations by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 74 patients with multiple system atrophy and 90 healthy controls. The plasma α-synuclein levels were significantly elevated in patients who had multiple system atrophy compared with the control group (P = 0.000). In a subgroup of 48 patients who had probable multiple system atrophy, there was a weakly negative correlation between plasma α-synuclein levels and subscores on Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale item VI (r(s)  = -0.307; P = 0.034). Plasma α-synuclein levels were elevated in patients with multiple system atrophy, and these levels may be decreased with the development of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhan-Fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Xiao-Shuang
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bei-Sha
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051844:alpha-Synuclein
keywords: SNCA; Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; multiple system atrophy; α-synuclein