Selective molecular alterations in the autophagy pathway in patients with Lewy body disease and in models of alpha-synucleinopathy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lewy body disease is a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by alpha-synuclein accumulation that includes dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's Disease (PD). Recent evidence suggests that impairment of lysosomal pathways (i.e. autophagy) involved in alpha-synuclein clearance might play an important role. For this reason, we sought to examine the expression levels of members of the autophagy pathway in brains of patients with DLB and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and in alpha-synuclein transgenic mice.

Methodology/principal findings

By immunoblot analysis, compared to controls and AD, in DLB cases levels of mTor were elevated and Atg7 were reduced. Levels of other components of the autophagy pathway such as Atg5, Atg10, Atg12 and Be

SUBMITTER: Crews L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2824828 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature