Atypical astroglial pTDP-43 pathology in astroglial predominant tauopathy.

We observed atypical astrocytic pTDP-43 pathology in astroglial predominant tauopathy.

A unique common ancestor introduced P301L mutation in MAPT gene in frontotemporal dementia patients from Barcelona (Baix Llobregat, Spain).

The County of Baix Llobregat (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) presents a high prevalence of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in the presence of P301L mutation in the MAPT gene. To evaluate a possible unique founder effect of P301L, and its age, the analysis of 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms covering 50 kb and 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms located along 30 Mb around the mutation was performed by developing 2 multiplex single-base extension reactions. In addition, families with affected and healthy individuals from France and Italy were analyzed. The FTD-affected individuals from Barcelona carried the same 50-kb haplotype linked to P301L mutation, suggesting a unique common ancestor, as opposed to French patients. Italian patients are also probably descendants of a unique ancestor, which would be different from that of Barcelona. Diversity of 30-Mb haplotypes found in Barcelona and the inference of the mutation age in these populations, among other reasons, suggest that prevalence of FTD linked to P301L MAPT mutation is the result of a locally originated mutation.

α-Synuclein aggregates in labial salivary glands of idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Study Objectives: To assess whether biopsy of the labial minor salivary glands safely detects phosphorylated α-synuclein (pAS) deposits in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (IRBD), a condition that precedes the cardinal manifestations of synuclein disorders associated with Lewy-type pathology, namely, Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Methods: In a prospective study, labial biopsy of the minor salivary glands was performed in 62 patients with IRBD, 13 patients with PD, and 10 patients with DLB who were initially diagnosed with IRBD, and in 33 controls. Aggregates of pAS were assessed by immunohistochemistry using antiserine 129-pAS antibody and the conformation-specific 5G4 antibody. Results: Sufficient biopsy material containing glandular parenchyma was obtained in all participants. Deposits of pAS were found in 31 of 62 (50%) participants with IRBD, 7 of 13 (54%) with PD, 5 of 10 (50%) with DLB, and in one of the 33 (3%) controls. Participants with IRBD, PD, and DLB with and without pAS immunoreactivity did not differ in demographic and clinical features. Adverse events were lip bruising (9.2%), swelling (6.6%), pain (2.4%), and numbness (1.7%) which were mild and transitory and did not require treatment. Conclusions: Labial minor salivary glands biopsy proved to be a safe and useful procedure to identify pAS in participants with IRBD, and in participants with PD and DLB initially diagnosed with IRBD. The biopsy provides direct histopathological evidence that IRBD represents a synucleinopathy and that could be useful for histological confirmation of synuclein pathology in PD and DLB.