Title | Decreased Levels of VAMP2 and Monomeric Alpha-Synuclein Correlate with Duration of Dementia. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2016 |
Authors | Vallortigara, J, Whitfield, D, Quelch, W, Alghamdi, A, Howlett, D, Hortobágyi, T, Johnson, M, Attems, J, O'Brien, JT, Thomas, A, Ballard, CG, Aarsland, D, Francis, PT |
Journal | J Alzheimers Dis |
Volume | 50 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 101-10 |
Date Published | 2016 |
ISSN | 1875-8908 |
Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, alpha-Synuclein, Amyloid beta-Peptides, Analysis of Variance, Cognition Disorders, Dementia, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Status Schedule, Neuropsychological Tests, Regression Analysis, Synaptophysin, tau Proteins, Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2 |
Abstract | Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregations are the key pathological hallmark of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD), but are also frequently present in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Much remains unknown about the role of α-syn in the synapse and the wider role of synaptic dysfunction in these dementias. Changes in concentrations of key 'SNAP (Soluble N-ethylmaleimide Sensitive Factor Attachment Protein) Receptor' (SNARE) proteins as a consequence of alterations in the aggregation state of α-syn may contribute to synaptic dysfunction in patients with DLB, PDD, and AD and result in impaired cognition. We have studied a large cohort (n = 130) of autopsy confirmed DLB, PDD, AD, and control brains. Using semi-quantitative western blotting, we have demonstrated significant changes across the diagnostic groups of DLB, PDD, and AD in the SNARE and vesicle proteins syntaxin, Munc18, VAMP2, and monomeric α-syn in the prefrontal cortex, with a significant reduction of Munc18 in AD patients (p |
DOI | 10.3233/JAD-150707 |
Alternate Journal | J. Alzheimers Dis. |
PubMed ID | 26639969 |
Grant List | MR/L016451/1 / / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom G1100540 / / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom G0900652 / / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom G0502157 / / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom G0400074 / / Medical Research Council / United Kingdom |