Altered α-synuclein, parkin, and synphilin isoform levels in multiple system atrophy brains

Tomasz Brudek, Kristian Winge, Nadja Bredo Rasmussen, Justyna Maria Czarna Bahl, Julia Tanassi, Tina Klitmøller Agander, Thomas M Hyde, Bente Pakkenberg

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Together with Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a member of a diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders termed α-synucleinopathies. Previously, it has been shown that α-synuclein, parkin, and synphilin-1 display disease-specific transcription patterns in frontal cortex in PD, dementia with Lewy bodies, and MSA, and thus may mediate the development of α-synucleinopathies. In this study, the differential expression of α-synuclein isoforms on transcriptional and translational levels was ascertained in MSA patients in comparison with PD cases and normal controls using isoform-specific primers and exon-specific antibodies in substantia nigra, striatum, cerebellar cortex, and nucleus dentatus. These regions are severely affected by α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, we have also investigated transcript levels for parkin and synphilin-1 isoforms. In MSA brains, α-synuclein140 and α-synuclein 112 isoform levels were significantly increased, whereas levels of the α-synuclein 126 isoform were decreased in the substantia nigra, striatum, cerebellar cortex, and nucleus dentatus versus controls. Moreover, in MSA cases, we showed increased levels of parkin isoforms lacking the N-terminal ubiquitin-like domain and an aggregation-prone synphilin-1A isoform that causes neuronal toxicity in MSA. In PD brains, parkin transcript variant 3, 7, and 11 were significantly and specifically over-expressed in the striatum and cerebellar cortex, together with synphilin-1A and 1C. The changes of isoform expression profiles in neurodegenerative diseases suggest alterations in the regulation of transcription and/or splicing events, leading to regional/cellular events that may be important for the highly increased aggregation of α-synuclein in the brain. We report differential expression of α-synuclein, parkin, and synphilin-1 isoforms in multiple system atrophy (MSA) versus Parkinson's disease and normal control brains. We have focused on brain regions that are severely affected by α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in MSA. The reported changes of isoform expression profiles suggest alterations in the regulation of transcription that may be important for aggregation of α-synuclein in the brain. We report differential expression of α-synuclein, parkin, and synphilin-1 isoforms in multiple system atrophy (MSA) versus Parkinson's disease and normal control brains. We have focused on brain regions that are severely affected by α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in MSA. The reported changes of isoform expression profiles suggest alterations in the regulation of transcription that may be important for aggregation of α-synuclein in the brain.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume136
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)172-85
Number of pages14
ISSN0022-3042
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2016

Keywords

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple System Atrophy
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Parkinson Disease
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • alpha-Synuclein
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

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