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01-11-2011 | Basic Neurosciences, Genetics and Immunology - Original Article

Increase expression of α-synuclein in aged human brain associated with neuromelanin accumulation

Authors: Qi Xuan, Sheng-Li Xu, De-Hong Lu, Shun Yu, Ming Zhou, Kenji Uéda, Ye-Qing Cui, Bo-Yang Zhang, Piu Chan

Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission | Issue 11/2011

Abstract

Although the increased prevalence of Parkinson’s disease (PD) with aging suggests that aging processes predispose dopamine neurons to degeneration, the mechanism involved remains unknown. Dopamine neurons contain significant amounts of neuromelanin, and the amount of neuromelanin increases with aging. In the present study, age-related changes in the number of nigral neurons expressing neuromelanin (NM), α-synuclein, and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) were stereologically analyzed in the postmortem brains of 28 healthy humans with an age range of 17–84 years. Stereological counting of NM content, α-synuclein content, and TH immunoreactivity revealed significant accumulation of NM and α-synuclein in neurons during the aging process. In cells containing a large amount of NM, α-synuclein-immunoreactive cells in aged individuals outnumbered those of younger individuals. In non-NM cells, the α-synuclein expression profile was similar across age groups. Furthermore, TH-immunoreactive neurons decreased significantly with aging, which was associated with accumulation of NM and α-synuclein. Our results suggest that age related accumulation of NM might induce α-synuclein over-expression and thereby make dopamine neurons more vulnerable to injuries.

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Title: Increase expression of α-synuclein in aged human brain associated with neuromelanin accumulation
Authors: Qi Xuan
Sheng-Li Xu
De-Hong Lu
Shun Yu
Ming Zhou
Kenji Uéda
Ye-Qing Cui
Bo-Yang Zhang
Piu Chan
Publication date: 01-11-2011
Publisher: Springer Vienna
Published in: Journal of Neural Transmission / Issue 11/2011
Print ISSN: 0300-9564
Electronic ISSN: 1435-1463
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-011-0636-3

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Increase expression of α-synuclein in aged human brain associated with neuromelanin accumulation

Abstract

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Abstract

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