alpha-Synuclein accumulates in Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies but not in Alzheimer's disease beta-amyloid plaque cores

A growing body of evidence suggests that the non-Ap component of Alzheimer' s disease amyloid precursor protein (NACP) or alpha-synuclein contributes t o the neurodegenerative processes in Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). In the present study anti sera to the N terminus and the NAC domain of the alpha-synuclein protein we re employed to elucidate the expression pattern in brains of patients with AD, PD, DLB and control specimen. alpha-Synuclein exhibited an overall punc tuate expression profile compatible with a synaptic function. Interestingly , while Lewy bodies were strongly immunoreactive, none of the alpha-synucle in antisera revealed staining in mature beta-amyloid plaques in AD. These o bservations suggest that alpha-synuclein does not contribute to late neurod egenerative processes in AD brains. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.