Analysis of protein propagation scheme of Lewy body- related alpha- synucleinopathy

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24300133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nerve anatomy/Neuropathology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology
• Principal Investigator: MURAYAMA Shigeo 地方独立行政法人東京都健康長寿医療センター(東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所), 東京都健康長寿医療センター研究所, 研究部長 (50183653)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SAITO Yuko 独立行政法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 臨床検査部・臨床検査科, 医長 (60344066)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: レビー小体病 / 免疫組織化学 / αシヌクレイン / ブレインバンク / プリオン / パーキンソン病 / レビー小体型認知症 / 純粋自律神経不全症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study is to elucidate prion hypothesis of Lewy body- related alpha- synucleinopathy (LBAS). We first found LBAS in the olfactory epithelial cells and supported dual hit hypothesis by Braak’s group. We also proved that LBAS involving the olfactory bulb and amygdala pathway was independent from LBAS in the peripheral autonomic nervous system, spinal cord and brain stem. We also confirmed that LBAS in the preganglionic sympathetic nerves extended from distal axons to their perikarya, as was reported in the postganglionic sympathetic nerves. We also first demonstrated that LBAS affected the primary sensory neurons. LBAS there extended from distal to proximal axons. LBAS in the spinal cord apparently extended from the caudal to rostral extension. These data supported the prion hypothesis of LBAS that its initial peripheral seeding propagated to the central nervous system via neural network.

Free Research Field

神経内科・神経病理