Establishment of biomarkers by pathological approach to Lewy body disease (Parkinson's disease)

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K09736
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: Jikei University School of Medicine (2020); Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital and Institute of Gerontology (2016-2019)
• Principal Investigator: Sengoku Renpei 東京慈恵会医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (40385331)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: レビー小体病 / パーキンソン病 / レビー小体 / α-シヌクレイン / 免疫組織化学 / レビー小体型認知症

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The world is aging. Along with this, the number of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) is also increasing. It is known that non-motor symptoms appear before the appearance of motor symptoms of PD. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathological evaluation site for early PD diagnosis. As biopsy sites, each site such as the submandibular gland, skin, and intestinal tract is listed as a candidate. As a result of examination in consecutive autopsy cases, the following was found. Lewy pathology is observed in the sympathetic ganglia from an early stage of the disease. It was clarified that Lewy pathology in the submandibular gland was not observed before clinical symptoms were observed.

Free Research Field

神経内科・神経病理

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

難病等の創薬においては、できるだけ発症早期の段階での介入が重要である。パーキンソン病（PD)では、いわゆる振るえ等の運動症状が出現した病期ではすでに、脳内の変性はある程度進んでいる。運動症状出現前の段階でPDと早期診断できるようなサロゲートマーカーを確立することが逼迫した課題である。病理学的なアプローチとしては生検があり、今回剖検検体から得られた結果は、生検部位探索の一助として還元しうる。