RESUMO
Background: Seed amplification assay (SAA) testing has become an important biomarker in the diagnosis of alpha-synuclein related neurodegenerative disorders. Objectives: To assess the rate of alpha-synuclein SAA positivity in progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal syndrome (CBS), and analyse the clinical and pathological features of SAA positive and negative cases. Methods: 106 CSF samples from clinically diagnosed PSP (n=59), CBS (n=37) and indeterminate parkinsonism cases (n=10) were analysed using alpha-synuclein SAA. Results: Three cases (1 PSP, 2 CBS) were Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)-type SAA positive. 5/59 (8.5%) PSP cases were Parkinson's disease (PD)-type SAA positive, and these cases were older and had a shorter disease duration compared with SAA negative cases. In contrast, 9/35 (25.7%) CBS cases were PD-type SAA positive. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PD-type seeds can be detected in PSP and CBS using a CSF alpha-synuclein SAA, and in PSP this may impact on clinical course.
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Abnormalities in dopamine neurotransmission are thought to underlie the generation of dystonic movements. The authors performed a case-control allelic association study in patients with the focal dystonia blepharospasm, using polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor and transporter genes. Allele 2 of a DRD5 dinucleotide repeat was significantly associated with blepharospasm. This may indicate a pathogenic role for this receptor.
Assuntos
Blefarospasmo/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Receptores de Dopamina D1/genética , Adulto , Alelos , Repetições de Dinucleotídeos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Receptores de Dopamina D5RESUMO
Recent years have seen many advances in our understanding of the genetics of the dystonias, with 13 loci identified to date. The DYT1 gene, which causes most cases of childhood-onset generalized primary dystonia, was cloned in 1997, and use of cell models has begun to unravel the role of its protein (torsinA) in both health and disease. Treatment of more severe dystonia has been a difficult area, with only limited success from medical therapies. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of globus pallidus deep brain stimulation and a number of reports have shown promising results.
Assuntos
Distonia/genética , Chaperonas Moleculares , Adulto , Toxinas Botulínicas Tipo A/uso terapêutico , Proteínas de Transporte/genética , Criança , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Terapia Combinada , Distonia/diagnóstico , Distonia/terapia , Humanos , Levodopa/uso terapêutico , FenótipoRESUMO
The objective was to assess whether polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor and transporter genes are associated with development of primary cervical dystonia. A case-control allelic association study is described of 100 patients with cervical dystonia and 100 controls using polymorphisms within D1-5 receptor and dopamine transporter genes. No significant association was found between patient and control allele frequencies for polymorphisms in genes for the D1 to 4 receptors and dopamine transporter. Significant associations, however, were found for alleles 2 and 6 of the D5 receptor microsatellite. Carriage of allele 2 was associated with cervical dystonia, whereas allele 6 was overrepresented in the control group, implying a possible protective effect. The association with allele 6 remained significant after Bonferroni correction. In conclusion, the finding of a significant association with an allele in the D5 receptor gene in patients with cervical dystonia may indicate a pathogenic role of this gene (or neighbouring genes). Further studies are required to confirm this finding and to assess whether these alleles are part of distinct haplotypes associated with other polymorphisms imparting a functional effect on the D5 receptor.